NYSCC 2003 ANNUAL FISH COMMITTEE MEETING

Attendance: E. Zamjohn-Reg.4, R. Brown-Reg.5, W. Girvan-Reg.6, C. Crosby-Reg.7, J. Strickland-Reg.8, J.Fischer-Reg.9, Guests- D.Stang(NYSDEC), W.Bennett, J.Bennett, J.Young, G.Sergio.

    The annual meeting of the NYSCC fish committee was held on April 26th, 2003 at Herkimer County Community College. The meeting was called to order at 9:05AM. The minutes of this meeting are as follows.
DEC FISCAL SITUATION

    D. Stang, chief of fisheries for the NYSDEC, stated that there were only 4 retirements in the fish hatchery system. The bad news was that the DEC employment will drop from approx. 449 people to 406. The retirements dropped the employment level to 398, which would allow for 8 new hires to bring the level to the desired 406.  Fish and wildlife Regional Directors positions are vacant in Reg.4, 6,7,8 and 9. Some of these positions might be backfilled but this again leaves no replacements for the people moving up. The committee was very upset and felt that Governor Patacki has betrayed the sportsmen. The sportsmen supported the license fee increase to solidify the conservation fund and now the excess money in the fund is "frozen" once again, because of politics! The Conservation fund is healthy and there is no reason to not replace the retired personnel.

FISH HATCHERIES

    D. Stang reported that the hatcheries are all operating efficiently with over 150,000,000 walleye eggs gathered at the Oneida Lake hatchery in 1 day! Doug went on to say that there were 18 big tank trucks available for fish stocking. A new water pipeline is under construction for the South Otselic hatchery.  The annual musky netting at Chautauqua Lake is under way with over 200 muskies being captured. The committee expressed their pleasure in the ability of the DEC to continue the important stocking programs in trying times.
CORMORANTS
    The committee was informed by D. Stang that the federal government is giving the states more authority to control the cormorant problem providing they can prove that a severe problem exists. This is easy for New York State as they have conducted many studies and have accumulated a great deal of data to justify the need for a tougher cormorant management program. The NYSDEC will, for now, continue to oil eggs, check the cormorant consumption of fish and conduct an eastern basin (Lake Ontario) survey. Oneida Lake, has also obtained $500,000 from New York State for cormorant control.

NYSCC RESOLUTION_2003

    The only new 2003 NYSCC resolution (03-4 Chautauqua County) that pertained to fishing was discussed. This resolution requested that the DEC do a full review of commercial bait fishing operations and the effect of bait transportation between watersheds. The fish committee felt that the need for this has been long overdue and voted in favor of it.

PROPOSED FISHING REGULATIONS-NYSDEC

    The proposed new fishing regulations were reviewed; many went without committee comment. The ones that received positive or negative comments are as follows:
The proposed new inland trout regulation that would allow only 2 trout over 12" in the daily creel limit of 5 trout received a mixed review from the committee and the guests. Regions 4 and 5 are strongly opposed to this new proposal with all the federations in region 5 voting in opposition along with local politicians. Region 8 and region 6 however, was totally supportive of this regulation so in effect the committee agreed to disagree! D. Stang explained that the proposal was aimed at increasing the opportunity of anglers to catch some of the very popular 2 year old stocked brown trout.
    The proposal to change the steelhead creel limit on great lakes streams from 3 to 1 appears to be supported by most Lake Ontario anglers but is opposed by many Lake Erie steelhead anglers including the Erie County fish advisory board.

"I FISH NEW YORK PROGRAM"

    The lack of progress on the newly proposed "I Fish New York" program was also questioned by the committee. It appears that this program is on hold as there is presently none available to run the program. The program initially called for 3 dedicated people.

REGIONAL CONCERNS

    Region 4 commented on the good stocking program run by SUNY on Otisco Lake. They also reiterated their opposition to the trout regulation, which allows only 2 fish over 12" in a daily creel limit of 5 fish.
Region 6 commented on the need for ethic education for some fishermen who tend to cause problems on the stream with their fishing tactics ( float boats stopping in front of stream fishermen, etc.) All fishermen need to learn how to fish in a safe and sportsmen like manner. Oneida Lake still needs help. Fishing continues to go down hill and the sale of panfish does not help. Sportsmen need to call,write, and fax etc. their representative to pass a bill to prohibit this practice as people who do sell fish are organized and are calling their representatives.
Region 7 is very pleased with the walleye stocking in Owasco Lake and thanked Mr. Stang for his help. They hope however, that in the future the DEC would consider increasing the stocking to approx. 60,000 fingerlings from the present 30,000.
Region 9 also had concerns on the proposed daily creel limit change for walleye on Chautauqua Lake. Three fish per day seemed acceptable but the 18" size limit might be too big as the vast majority of the present Chautauqua walleyes run from 15-18". Walleyes also seem to grow at a very slow rate on this lake as it took a prolific 1993 class year about 7 years to attain a legal size of 15"!

    Overall I was very pleased with the meeting as all members and guests conducted themselves in a considerate manner under trying statewide fiscal problems. A special thanks to D.Stang, for without his prolific input the meeting would not have been a success. I hope everyone got their "air time" and all-important issues were covered adequately. Have a safe and healthy summer. Good fishing to all……..
                                                                                   J.Fischer