Bill > A02005

This bill amends the Environmental Conservation Law to change the process for issuing certain commercial fishing licenses and permits in New York. The key provisions are: 1. Where the number of applications for commercial food fish licenses, commercial crab permits, commercial whelk or conch licenses, and marine and coastal district party and charter boat licenses from new applicants exceeds the available number of licenses/permits, the Department of Environmental Conservation will randomly select recipients from those applications received by the first business day of the applicable year. Applicants will receive one extra entry for each previous year they applied but were not selected, and applicants who have completed an apprenticeship will receive one extra entry. 2. The bill also allows licensees or permittees to temporarily authorize someone to undertake their licensed activities on their behalf in the event of a temporary emergency, subject to approval by the Department.