New York Laws
Title 3 - Marine Fisheries
13-0341 - Trawls; Use Prohibited in Certain Waters.

For the purposes of this chapter, a trawl shall be defined as a net
which is towed or dragged through the water column, capturing fish by
straining the water, but shall not include a seine which is used to
encircle fish. The term trawl shall include but not be limited to the
otter trawl, the beam trawl, the Paranzella or two-boat trawl, the pair
trawl, the Danish seine and the Scottish seine. Trawls shall not be set
or used in the water areas of the marine district described in the
following subdivisions:

1. In the waters of the county of Richmond and in the counties of
Kings or Queens, northerly and westerly of a line from the sea end of
the breakwater at Rockaway Point to Romer Shoal lighthouse, including
Jamaica Bay and its adjacent bays, inlets, creeks and basins.

2. a. In the Atlantic Ocean within one-half mile of the coastline and
in all connecting tidal waters inshore of the coastline, from Rockaway
Inlet Jetty at Rockaway Point to the Town of Babylon bathing pavilion at
Cedar Island Beach, and in all tidal waters inshore of a line from the
Town of Babylon bathing pavilion to the sea buoy (BW S-I, Bell) at the
entrance of Fire Island Inlet and thence to the seaward end of Fire
Island Inlet Jetty at Democrat Point.

b. Seaward of Rockaway Inlet within an arc with a radius of one and
one-half miles measured from the point at 40°32.4' N latitude, 73°56.5'
W longitude, which is at or near the most southerly terminus of the
Rockaway Inlet Jetty at Rockaway Point.

c. Seaward of East Rockaway Inlet within an arc with a radius of one
and one-half miles measured from the point at 40°34.9' N latitude,
73°45.3' W longitude, which is at or near the most southerly terminus of
the East Rockaway Inlet Jetty at Silver Point.

d. Seaward of Jones Inlet within an arc with a radius of two miles
measured from the point at 40°34.4' N latitude, 73°34.6' W longitude,
which is at or near the most southerly terminus of the East (Short Beach
side) Inlet Jetty, during the period January 1 through June 14.

e. Seaward of Fire Island Inlet within an arc with a radius of two
miles measured from the point at 40°37.2' N latitude, 73°18.4' W
longitude, which is at or near the most southerly terminus of the Fire
Island Inlet Jetty at Democrat Point, during the period January 1
through June 14.

3. In Mecox Inlet within one-half mile of the narrowest part of the
mouth of such inlet and seaward of Moriches and Shinnecock Inlets within
separate arcs each with a radius of one and one-half miles measured from
a point for Moriches Inlet at 40°45.4' N latitude, 72°45.2' W longitude,
and for Shinnecock Inlet at 40°50.2' N latitude, 72°28.3' W longitude,
which points are midway between the points at the most southerly termini
of the east and west jetties at the entrance to each inlet.

4. In the Harlem River and the East River east of the Robert F.
Kennedy Bridge and in Long Island Sound west of a line drawn from
Hewlett's (King's) Point to the north end of Hart Island, thence to the
south end of Glen Island, and in their adjacent bays, coves, creeks and
confluent waters.

5. In Flanders Bay, Great Peconic Bay, Little Peconic Bay, Noyac Bay
and Shelter Island Sound, including all waters forming a part thereof or
tributary thereto, lying westerly of an imaginary line extending from
the most southerly point of Orient State Park to the most easterly point
of Shelter Island, also known as Ram Head, and from this point in a
generally southerly direction to the most northerly point of Cedar
Point, including all of Orient Harbor, Hallock Bay and Northwest Harbor.

6. In the county of Suffolk in the waters lying westerly of an
imaginary line extending in a southerly direction from the most easterly

end of Plum Island to the most northerly end of Gardiners Island, and
westerly of Gardiners Island, and westerly of a line extending in a
southerly direction from the most southerly end of Gardiners Island to
Goff Point; provided, however, that vessels and motorboats owned and
operated by citizens who are residents of the state may be used in such
waters in connection with the operation of trawls and other types of
nets towed by such boats and vessels. Nothing in this subdivision shall
be construed as legalizing the operation of any trawls in the waters
described in subdivision 5 of this section.

7. In Long Island Sound, including all waters forming a part thereof
or which are tributary thereto: a. west of an imaginary line from the
New York-Connecticut boundary shore line extending easterly and
southerly to Eaton's Point Neck on Long Island from April 1 to November
1.

b. South of a line from Hewlett Point on Great Neck eastward to Sands
Point on Manhassett Neck, then to Matinicock Point, then to Oak Neck
Point, then to Rocky Point at Centre Island, then to Lloyd Point, then
to Eaton's Neck Point, buoy 13, then to buoy "1" (privately maintained)
off the Northport Power Plant, then to buoy "NR" off the north of the
Nissequogue river, then to buoy "1" off Stony Brook Harbor, and then to
Crane Neck Point.

c. In the Nissequogue River.

d. Within Stony Brook Harbor.

e. Within one-half mile of the shore between an imaginary line
extending north from Crane Neck Point and an imaginary line extending
north from the shore intersect of the Riverhead-Brookhaven town line
near Wading River, including all bays, harbors and tributaries landward
thereof, including Port Jefferson Harbor, Conscience Bay, Setauket
Harbor and Mount Sinai Harbor.

f. Within one mile of the shore of Fishers Island, or between the
shore of Fishers Island and the Connecticut-New York State boundary line
wherever such boundary line is within less than one mile of the shore of
Fishers Island.

8. In the waters of the Great South Bay, Moriches Bay and Shinnecock
Bay, including all tidal waters and all waters forming a part thereof or
tributary thereto.

9. The department is authorized to adopt regulations prescribing the
minimum size net mesh, and the manner in which such nets may be
possessed and used, in trawl fisheries for summer and winter flounder.

Structure New York Laws