NY Env Conserv L § 11-1307 (2021)
2021 New York Laws ENV - Environmental Conservation Article 11 - Fish and Wildlife Title 13 - Fishing 11-1307 - Fishing Promotion Program.

§ 11-1307. Fishing promotion program.The  commissioner  shall  develop  and  implement  a fishing promotion   program. The commissioner shall, in conjunction with the commissioner of   economic development and  the  commissioner  of  parks,  recreation  and   historic  preservation,  develop  and  implement  a  program  which will   encourage residents and  out-of-state  fishermen  to  utilize  New  York   state's  fishing  opportunities.  Such program shall include, but not be   limited to:1. working with conservation organizations,  local  sportmen's  clubs,   retail  stores,  and  county chambers to develop and conduct educational   fishing clinics for children and adults to teach angling techniques  for   both  fresh  and  salt  water  fishing  and to provide information about   stocking programs that will increase the odds of a successful  and  safe   fishing experience;2.  conducting public outreach, including working with local community   and  youth  organizations,  tourism   promotion   agencies   and   local   governments,  to  develop  programs  in  conjunction  with  the two free   fishing days annually per department region provided by the legislature,   such as educational seminars, day-long fishing festivals, and tackle and   rod loaner programs, which will encourage individuals  to  take  up  the   sport of fishing;3.  making available to the fishing public, via both brochures and the   agency's website, the following information:a. Public fishing sections of streams, ponds, and lakes;b. Public access points for streams, ponds, and lakes;c. Handicapped access points for all water bodies; andd. The location of state lands,  including  forests,  parks,  wildlife   management  areas, trails, campsites by type, ski areas, hatcheries, and   environmental education centers and camps;4. posting  fishing  reports,  including  current  fishing  conditions   statewide, on the department's website;5.  developing  and implementing a "learn-to-fish" and "instructional"   passbook and stamp program. a.  The  department  shall  make  available,   wherever  licenses  are  sold,  a "learn-to-fish" passbook and stamps to   children under sixteen years of age. Such stamps shall  include  various   types  of  fish indigenous to New York state and shall also include with   the distribution of the  "learn-to-fish"  passbook  one  "learn-to-fish"   stamp.  A  child  under sixteen years of age may collect stamps and when   the "learn-to-fish" passbook is complete  shall  return  such  completed   "learn-to-fish"  passbook  to the department via mail and the department   shall  issue  a  patch,  to  be  determined  by  the  commissioner,   to   "learn-to-fish"  passbook holders who have participated in and completed   the  "learn-to-fish"  passbook  program   created   pursuant   to   this   subdivision.b. A licensee shall also be issued an "instructional passbook" and may   place a "learn-to-fish" stamp previously issued to a child under sixteen   in  his  or  her  "instructional  passbook" whenever he or she teaches a   person under sixteen years of age how to fish. Once  that  licensee  has   earned  fifty  "learn-to-fish"  stamps  in  his  or  her  "instructional   passbook",  that  person  shall  return  such  completed  "instructional   passbook"  to  the  department via mail and the department shall issue a   free fishing license for the season following that in which  he  or  she   gets  their fiftieth "learn-to-fish" stamp. The department shall include   in the "instructional passbook" information relating to the  instruction   of  fishing  techniques  to  children,  and  shall  also include current   fishing regulations in the "instructional passbook".