POLICY 10

FURTHER DEVELOP COMMERCIAL FINFISH, SHELLFISH, AND CRUSTACEAN RESOURCES IN THE COASTAL AREA BY ENCOURAGING THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW, OR IMPROVEMENT OF EXISTING ON-SHORE COMMERICAL FISHING FACILITIES, INCREASING MARKETING OF THE STATE'S SEAFOOD PRODUCTS, MAINTAINING ADEQUATE STOCKS, AND EXPANDING AQUACULTURE FACILITIES.

Explanation of Policy

Commercial fishery development activities must occur within the context of sound fishery management principals developed and enforced within the State's waters by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the management plans developed by the Regional Fisheries Management Councils (Mid-Atlantic and New England) and enforced by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service within the Fishery Conservation Zone. (The Fishery Conservation Zone is the area of coastal waters extending from the three-mile State waters boundary to the 200 mile offshore boundary of the U.S. waters. The Conservation Zone is authorized by the U.S. Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976.) Sound resource management considerations include optimum sustained yield levels developed for specific commercial fish species, harvest restrictions imposed by State and Federal governments, and the economic, political (uses conflicts), and technological constraints to utilizing these resources.

The following additional guidelines should be considered by State and Federal agencies as they determine the consistency of their proposed action with the policy:

1. A public agency's commercial fishing development initiative should not preempt or displace private sector initiative.

2. A public agency's efforts to expand existing or create new on-shore commercial fishing support facilities should be directed towards unmet development needs rather than merely displacing existing commercial fishing activities from a nearby port. This may be accomplished by taking into consideration existing State or regional commercial fishing development plans.

3. Consideration should be made by State and Federal agencies whether an action will impede existing utilization or future development of the state's commercial fishing resources.

4. Commercial fishing development efforts should be made in a manner which ensures the maintenance and protection of the renewable fishery resources.