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

Scup Weekly Harvest Program

For New York State Food Fish and Food Fish Landing License Holders Only.

Program Parameters:

  • The weekly scup harvest program will run from August 3, 2024 through September 30, 2024, unless otherwise specified by DEC.   
  • Registered participants will be permitted to possess and land scup 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 scup in any single fishing week.  
  2. Multiple 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 fishing week, per participant, is not to be exceeded. For example, for a weekly trip limit of 6,500 lbs., participants that land 4,000 lbs. of scup on Monday will be permitted to land an additional 2,500 lbs. in a single calendar day, by the end of the fishing week on Friday.  
  4. The fishing week for the weekly scup 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 scup only during the hours of 6:00AM through 8:00PM.  
  7. 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 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 weekly scup 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 scup landings and provide the intended port and facility of landing, estimated time of landing, and total weight of scup to be landed in New York. 

How to Participate:

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

Black Sea Bass Weekly Harvest Program

Closed 4/3/24

Summer Flounder Weekly Harvest Program

Closed 5/1/24

NYS Cooperative Multi-State Possession and Landing Program

Closed 5/1/24

Contact for this Page

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

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