04-01-2003, 01:20 AM
[font "Arial"][size 2]The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission could temporarily shut down striped bass and American shad fishing in New York if the state does not conduct annual spawning surveys of these species.
Due to budget cuts, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation did not complete its required striped bass and American shad surveys in 2002, and the staff positions needed for this research have still not been filled. The cost of hiring two biologists to run the program would be approximately $116,000 per year.
According to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission executive director John O'Shea, the commission has never closed a fishery in any of the 15 East Coast states it oversees, but it has the authority to do so.
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Due to budget cuts, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation did not complete its required striped bass and American shad surveys in 2002, and the staff positions needed for this research have still not been filled. The cost of hiring two biologists to run the program would be approximately $116,000 per year.
According to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission executive director John O'Shea, the commission has never closed a fishery in any of the 15 East Coast states it oversees, but it has the authority to do so.
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