Special Harvest Programs

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To participate in a Special Harvest Program, eligible applicants must possess a valid DEC Food Fish License. A summer flounder permit is required to participate any summer flounder special harvest program.

Review parameters and requirements below for each program and submit a completed application to register to participate in the respective special harvest program. For current New York State commercial fishing trip limits, visit DEC's Commercial Harvest Limits.

2025 Black Sea Bass Special Harvest Program

For New York State Commercial Food Fishing License or Food Fish Landing License Holders 

Program Parameters:

  • The black sea bass special harvest program will run from January 1, 2025 through April 30, 2025, unless otherwise specified by DEC. 
  • Registered participants will be permitted to possess and land black sea bass in excess of the daily trip limit up to the weekly trip limit in one or two trips, but in no event may a participant possess or land more than the weekly trip limit in a fishing week, Saturday through Friday.

Participation Requirements:

  1. A participant may not possess or land more than the biweekly trip limit of black sea bass in any single fishing week.
  2. No more than three participants may list the same vessel to fish from, however only one participant may fish from the permitted vessel per day, and each vessel shall not land more than once per day or exceed one weekly limit per day.
  3. A maximum of two landings per weekly period, per participant, is not to be exceeded. For example, for a weekly trip limit of 400 lbs., participants that land 200 lbs. of black sea bass on Monday will be permitted to land an additional 200 lbs. in a single calendar day, by the end of the fishing week on Friday.
  4. The fishing week for the black sea bass special harvest program is Saturday through Friday. 
  5. A fishing vessel trip report (VTR) for any trips where more than the daily trip limit is taken must be submitted within 48 hours of landing. 
  6. Participants are permitted to offload black sea bass only during the hours of 6:00AM through 8:00PM. 
  7. Once in the special harvest program, participants are not allowed to mix weekly and daily harvest trips. To opt out of the special harvest program, participants must notify DEC of their intent by email at [email protected] . Participants may only opt-in or out of the program up to two times. After the second opt-out, participants are no longer eligible to participate in the current black sea bass special harvest program.
  8. Participants are NOT required to submit a predeparture notice but MUST call DEC Division of Law Enforcement Dispatch at 631-444-0250 at least two hours prior to arrival at port for any black sea bass landings and provide the intended port and facility of landing, estimated time of landing, and total weight of black sea bass to be landed in New York.

How to Participate

Submit completed application by email to: [email protected] or send by mail to: NYSDEC Quota Management Unit, 123 Kings Park Blvd., Kings Park, NY 11754

2025 Summer Flounder Weekly Harvest Program

For New York State Commercial Summer Flounder Permit Holders Only

Program Parameters:

  • The summer flounder special harvest program will run from January 1, 2025 through April 30, 2025, unless otherwise specified by DEC. 
  • Registered participants will be permitted to possess and land summer flounder in excess of the daily trip limit up to the weekly trip limit in one or two trips, but in no event may a participant possess or land more than the weekly trip limit in a fishing week, Saturday through Friday. 

Participation Requirements:

  1. A participant may not possess or land more than the weekly trip limit of summer flounder in any single fishing week. 
  2. No more than three participants may list the same vessel to fish from, however only one participant may fish from the permitted vessel per day, and each vessel shall not land more than once per day or exceed one weekly limit per day.
  3. A maximum of two landings per weekly period, per participant, is not to be exceeded. For example, for a weekly trip limit of 700 lbs., participants that land 500 lbs. of summer flounder on Monday will be permitted to land an additional 200 lbs. in a single calendar day, by the end of the fishing week on Friday.
  4. The fishing week for the summer flounder special harvest program is Saturday through Friday. 
  5. A fishing vessel trip report (VTR) for any trips where more than the daily trip limit is taken must be submitted within 48 hours of landing. 
  6. Participants are permitted to offload summer flounder only during the hours of 6:00AM through 8:00PM. 
  7. Once in the special harvest program, participants are not allowed to mix weekly and daily harvest trips. To opt out of the special harvest program, participants must notify DEC of their intent by email at [email protected] . Participants may only opt-in or out of the program up to two times. After the second opt-out, participants are no longer eligible to participate in the current summer flounder special harvest program.
  8. Participants are NOT required to submit a predeparture notice but MUST call DEC Division of Law Enforcement Dispatch at 631-444-0250 at least two hours prior to arrival at port for any summer flounder landings and provide the intended port and facility of landing, estimated time of landing, and total weight of summer flounder to be landed in New York.

How to Participate

Submit completed application by email to: [email protected] or send by mail to: NYSDEC Quota Management Unit, 123 Kings Park Blvd., Kings Park, NY 11754

2025 NYS Cooperative Multi-State Possession and Landing Program

For New York State Commercial Food Fish License and Food Fish Landing License holders who participate in the Summer Flounder Special Harvest Program (Summer Flounder Permit required) or Black Sea Bass Special Harvest Program only.

Program Parameters:

  • The New York State Cooperative Multi-State Possession and Landing Program (Multi-State Program) will run January 1, 2025 through April 30, 2025, unless otherwise specified by DEC. 
  • The Multi-State Program application must be completed to obtain a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to participate in DEC’s discretionary Multi-State Program. 
  • The Multi-State Program allows holders of a New York State Commercial Food Fish License to possess multiple trip limits of summer flounder and/or black sea bass intended for ports in New York and cooperating states (CT, RI, and MA). Program participants may only land the trip limit allowed by the respective state’s current regulations. Please note that CT does not participate in the Multi-State Harvest Program for black sea bass. 
  • In order to land summer flounder or black sea bass in a cooperating state, you must hold a permit in that state and also apply for the Multi-State Program in that state. In other words, approval to participate in the Multi-State Program in New York does not signify approval to participate in another state. You are required to have a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from each state in which you intend to land your catch under the Multi-State Program. 
  • The Multi-State Program does not permit the landing of summer flounder or black sea bass in New York in excess of New York’s biweekly trip limit.   

Participation Requirements:

  1. Multi-State Program participants must have on board the fishing vessel the LOA verifying their authorization to participate in the program from NYS and any cooperating state in which the participant plans to land any portion of the multi-state possession limit.  
  2. Multi-State Program participants must strictly adhere to all applicable commercial fishing regulations, including the multi-state possession limit, as specified in 6 NYCRR Part 40, Marine Fish, and all applicable directives. 
  3. Multi-State Program participants must have no convictions or administrative penalties for violations of state commercial fishing regulations or laws within any cooperating state, or for violations of New York’s commercial fishing regulations or laws, within the past three years and must be in compliance with commercial fishing reporting requirements as provided in 6 NYCRR 40.1(c)(1)(i).   
  4. The summer flounder and/or black sea bass catch intended for landing in New York and any cooperating state(s) must be stored such that the catch intended for each state is physically separated; catch intended for each state must be stored in separate totes and identified with a written sign as to the intended port of landing. 
  5. All landings of summer flounder and/or black sea bass in New York and any cooperating states must occur between the hours of 0600 – 2000 hrs. (6:00 am – 8:00 pm).   
  6. Multi-State Program participants intending to land summer flounder and/or black sea bass in New York must call the DEC Division of Law Enforcement (631-444-0250) at least two hours prior to landing, and provide the intended port and facility of landing, estimated time of landing, total weight of all summer flounder and/or black sea bass possessed or to be landed in New York and other intended ports of landing in cooperating states. 

How to Participate

Submit completed application by email to: [email protected] or send by mail to: NYSDEC Quota Management Unit, 123 Kings Park Blvd., Kings Park, NY 11754

Scup Weekly Harvest Program

Closed 9/1/24

Spiny Dogfish Weekly Harvest Program

For New York State Food Fish Permit Holders not holding a federal Spiny Dogfish Category I Permit

Program Parameters:

  • The weekly spiny dogfish program will be open from May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025, unless otherwise specified by DEC.
  • The weekly harvest limit is set at 40,000 lbs. for registered participants. Registered participants will be permitted to possess and land spiny dogfish more than the normal daily trip limit (7,500 lbs.) up to 40,000 lbs. in one trip or two broken trips, but in no event may a vessel or participant possess or land more than 40,000 lbs. in a fishing week, Saturday through Friday.
  • All applicants must hold a valid 2024 or 2025 (depending on which year you join the program) Food Fish License to participate in the Spiny Dogfish Weekly Harvest Program.
  • Holders of federal Spiny Dogfish Category I permits are not eligible to participate in this program.
  • All spiny dogfish harvested under the weekly program must be from New York State waters.

Participation Requirements:

  1. At least 48 hours prior to taking a trip, permit holders must call 631-444-0714 to notify DEC.
  2. A participant may not possess or land more than 40,000 lbs. in any single fishing week.
  3. All spiny dogfish harvested under the weekly program must be from New York State waters.
  4. The fishing week for the spiny dogfish weekly program is Saturday through Friday.
  5. A fishing vessel trip report (VTR) for any trips where more than the daily trip limit is taken must be submitted within 48 hours of landing.
  6. While engaging in a weekly spiny dogfish fishing trip, program participants MUST always carry in their possession a copy (paper or electronic) of this completed registration form that was previously submitted to DEC.
  7. A maximum of 2 landings per fishing week is not to be exceeded. For example, for a weekly limit of 40,000 lbs., participants that land 25,000 lbs. of spiny dogfish on Monday will be permitted to land an additional 15,000 lbs. in a single calendar day, by the end of the fishing week on Friday.
  8. Participants are permitted to land spiny dogfish only during the hours of 6:00AM through 8:00PM.
  9. Once in the weekly program, participants are not allowed to mix weekly and daily harvest trips. To opt-out of the weekly program, participants must notify the DEC of their intent by email at [email protected]. Participants may only opt-in or out of the program up to two times. After the second opt-out, participants are no longer eligible to participate in the current spiny dogfish weekly harvest program.
  10. Participants MUST call DEC Division of Law Enforcement Dispatch at 631-444-0250 at least 2 hours prior to arrival at port for any landings in excess of the daily limit of 7,500 lbs. and provide the intended port and facility of landing, estimated time of landing, and total weight of spiny dogfish to be landed in New York.

How to Participate

Submit completed application by email to: [email protected] or send by mail to: NYSDEC Quota Management Unit, 123 Kings Park Blvd., Kings Park, NY 11754

Contact for this Page

Division of Marine Resources
123 Kings Park Blvd. (Nissequogue River State Park)
Kings Park, NY 11754

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