FISHING in New York State has been on the decline for the past few years, mainly due to a lack of new – or, more important, young – anglers taking up the sport.
With that in mind, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has kicked off a program to encourage children to enjoy the lifelong sport of fishing.
The program is called “My First Fish,” and it recognizes children for landing their first catch.
“Catching your first fish is always a thrill, especially for a young child,” said DEC Commissioner John P. Cahill. “Childhood fishing trips create memories that last a lifetime. We want to encourage children to become interested in fishing because adults who fished as kids are more likely to enjoy outdoor activities and are more committed to taking care of the environment.”
A recent study of angler attitudes in New York by Cornell University showed their primary concern was achieving and maintaining a clean environment.
As part of this program, the DEC will award a certificate to anyone who provides information on the first fish that they catch. The certificate features characters from the Peanuts comic strip, including Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
To participate in the program, anglers (or their parents) should send their name, address, type of fish caught, length and date to: My First Fish, N.Y.S. Department. of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Fisheries, Room 552, 50 Wolf Rd., Albany, N.Y., 12233.
“I remember my son’s first fish,” said Howard Cushing, President of the N.Y.S. Conservation Council. “He was just a little guy and he caught this big bass. But it was just before the opening of the bass season. We talked about it and released the trophy.
“He got two things that day – a great memory of his first fish and an early lesson in conservation. The lesson took – he’s a great angler today. This new program is a great way to introduce kids to the joys of fishing and the conservation lessons that it teaches.” *G OV. Pataki has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to declare a 153-mile stretch of the Hudson River a no-discharge zone for boaters. A 60-mile stretch upriver was designated a no-discharge zone two years ago, and it’s likely that the EPA will consider the 35 pump-out facilities now available along the river adequate to provide boaters with the opportunity to discharge waste on shore.
