Statewide - Notice of Proposed 2025 Atlantic Ocean Surfclam Annual Harvest Limit

Public Notice

Notice of Proposed 2025 Atlantic Ocean Surfclam Annual Harvest Limit

Pursuant to Environmental Conservation Law Section 13-0309 and Subpart 43-2 of Title 6 of the New York Codes Rules and Regulations, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) hereby gives notice of the following:

NYS DEC is proposing to establish the 2025 annual harvest limit for surfclams taken by mechanical means from the certified waters of the Atlantic Ocean at 184,558 industry standard bushels, which would maintain the level of harvest (total allowable catch) that was established from 2016 to 2024.

The number of vessels harvesting in the ocean and the percentage of the annual harvest limit taken by the surfclam fishery has been declining in the past few years. The level of harvest is low enough that NYS DEC does not see a need to reduce the annual limit. Without more recent population and surfclam resource information, maintaining the annual harvest limit is necessary in order to protect the long-term sustainability of the resource and economic viability of the surfclam fishery. NYS DEC will announce the annual harvest limit for 2025 no later than November 15 for an effective date of January 1 after taking into consideration public comment and any other relevant fishery related information.

Written comments on the proposed 2025 Atlantic Ocean surfclam annual harvest limit will be accepted by mail, e-mail, or fax until close of business Wednesday, October 16, 2024.