New York Consolidated Laws, Environmental Conservation Law - ENV § 11-0517. Taking for propagation and stocking;  fish hindering propagation of food fish or shellfish

1. The department may take, or it may permit any person to take wildlife for propagation or stocking purposes, or fish or shellfish for propagation purposes.

2. It may also remove, or permit to be removed, in any manner it may prescribe, from either public or private waters, fish or shellfish which hinder the propagation of food fish or shellfish, or which are in imminent danger of being killed by pollution or otherwise.  Such fish or shellfish shall be disposed of as the department may direct.

3. No person shall take fish within one hundred feet of any leader or net operated by the department or permitted under subdivisions 1 or 2 of this section and fish confined therein shall be handled or taken therefrom only by an employee of the department or by the permittee.