New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) is involved in a couple of programs that you can help provide valuable data for. NYDEC’s Division of Marine Resources assumed responsibility for conduct of the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) in New York State two years ago. They are charged with collecting saltwater recreational catch data that is used to manage our marine fisheries. NYDEC staff will be aboard party boats, visiting marinas and launch ramps, and canvassing local beaches, along with other fishing access points in their attempt to gather accurate catch information. The best source for that accurate data is from those out fishing. Keep an eye out this season for NYDEC field staff. Any information you can provide them with remains confidential, and is greatly appreciated. For more information on this effort, visit the Recreational Catch Sampling page at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/113218.html for more information.
STRIPED BASS COOPERATIVE ANGLER ONLINE LOGBOOK
If you fish for striped bass, you are encouraged to join the Striped Bass Cooperative Anglers Program (SBCA). By participating in the program you can provide DEC with valuable fishing effort information, which is used to help manage and maintain a healthy striped bass population.
Participating anglers contribute information by filling out paper logbooks and mailing them to DEC. Recently, they have developed the SBCA Online Logbook Survey123 App, which participants can use to electronically log trips from either a smartphone or computer. The online logbook was created to make entering data more efficient and user friendly, and they need participants to help them test it. If you are interested in participating in this program and using the new electronic log book, please contact sbcaprogram@dec.ny.gov.
For more information about the SBCA Program in the Marine and Coastal District, email sbcaprogram@dec.ny.gov. If you fish for striped bass north of the George Washington Bridge, you can participate in the Hudson River Cooperative Angler Program.
