Thiele Applauds Governor’s Bill To Expand Free Fishing Clinics

Originally Posted: March 09, 2012

Sag Harbor - New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) announced his support of legislation Governor Cuomo proposed to expand the opportunity for free fishing clinics in New York State, allowing more New Yorkers to experience fishing for the first time.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) conducts fishing clinics to help introduce individuals and families to recreational angling. Under current law, only four free sport fishing clinics may be held annually in each of DEC's nine regions and DEC employees must provide at least part of the instruction at the events. Participants are not required to have a fishing license in order to attend these clinics.

The new legislation seeks to expand the number of free clinics that may be conducted annually by increasing the number of clinics that DEC can hold as well as allowing other entities to conduct such clinics with DEC authorization. The new proposal also ensures that, if the clinic is held in the marine district, participants would not be required to sign up for the recreational marine fishing registration.

"I applaud Governor Cuomo's commitment to expanding fishing opportunities in the State. The Peconic Estuary has long been touted as having some of the most productive fishing grounds in the nation, so I hope to see some additional clinics offered out here."

New York's sport fishing industry generates an estimated $1.8 billion in economic activity annually, supporting nearly 17,000 jobs.