New York Consolidated Laws, Environmental Conservation Law - ENV § 11-0303. Management of fish and wildlife resources;  general purposes and policies governing manner of exercise of powers

1. The general purpose of powers affecting fish and wildlife, granted to the department by the Fish and Wildlife Law, is to vest in the department, to the extent of the powers so granted, the efficient management of the fish and wildlife resources of the state.  Such resources shall be deemed to include all animal and vegetable life and the soil, water and atmospheric environment thereof, owned by the state or of which it may obtain management, to the extent that they constitute the habitat of fish and wildlife as defined in section 11-0103.  Such management shall be deemed to include both the maintenance and improvement of such resources as natural resources and the development and administration of measures for making them accessible to the people of the state.  To obtain these results it shall include, to the extent authorized by law, the undertaking and execution of reciprocal and cooperative arrangements with the government of the United States, with other states, and with other departments and agencies of this state, political subdivisions and public corporations of this state and owners and lessees of privately owned lands and waters, and shall also include continuation of research and educational programs.

2. To such extent as it shall deem feasible without prejudice to other functions in the management of fish and wildlife resources of the state and the execution of other duties imposed by law, the department is directed, in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it, to develop and carry out programs and procedures which will in its judgment, (a) promote natural propagation and maintenance of desirable species in ecological balance, and (b) lead to the observance of sound management practices for such propagation and maintenance on lands and waters of the state, whether owned by the state or by a public corporation of the state or held in private ownership, having regard to (1) ecological factors, including the need for restoration and improvement of natural habitat and the importance of ecological balance in maintaining natural resources;  (2) the compatibility of production and harvesting of fish and wildlife crops with other necessary or desirable land uses;  (3) the importance of fish and wildlife resources for recreational purposes;  (4) requirements for public safety;  and (5) the need for adequate protection of private premises and of the persons and property of occupants thereof against abuse of privileges of access to such premises for hunting, fishing or trapping.

3. The department may, until December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-one, fix by regulation measures for the management of striped bass, including size limits, catch and possession limits, open and closed seasons, closed areas, restrictions on the manner of taking and landing, requirements for permits and eligibility therefor, recordkeeping requirements, requirements on the amount and type of fishing effort and gear, and requirements relating to transportation, possession and sale, provided that such regulations are no less restrictive than requirements set forth in this chapter and provided further that such regulations are consistent with the compliance requirements of applicable fishery management plans adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and with applicable provisions of fishery management plans adopted pursuant to the Federal Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. § 1800 et seq.).