According to the Department of Environmental Conservation new recreational fishing regulations are now effective for summer flounder (fluke), scup (porgy) and black sea bass.

The new regulations are less restrictive than current rules and specify changes to minimum size limit, possession limit and open season for all three species.

"These regulation changes reflect improvements to populations of scup, black sea bass and summer flounder," said DEC Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources, Kathy Moser in a statement. "The scup population is particularly robust at this time, and we encourage anglers to get out on the water and enjoy the increased opportunity for anglers to bring home freshly caught fish."

Below are new regulations from the DEC.

Summer Flounder: The new regulations include a 4-fish possession limit, a 19.5-inch minimum size limit and a May 1 through September 30 open season.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens says there's no timeline for a decision on whether fracking of shale gas wells will be allowed in New York state, but the review will likely continue through the summer.
    
Speaking at the annual Spring Environment Conference held by the Business Council in Albany on Thursday, Martens says the agency doesn't have a specific date yet for an update on the environmental review and proposed regulations for high-volume hydraulic fracturing of shale gas wells.
    
New York hasn't issued permits for shale gas wells using horizontal drilling and fracking since it began its review of the controversial technology in 2008. Meanwhile, thousands of shale gas wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania and other states in the gas-rich Marcellus Shale region.

Environmental Protection Agency Commissioner Carter Strickland today presided over the graduation of 26 new officers from the DEP's Environmental Police Academy.

The Academy, launched in 2002, is the first of its kind in the nation to provide training, experience, and concentrated course work in advanced environmental laws.

Graduates successfully completed 31 weeks of instruction during which they received intense training in counter terrorism, the environment, police science, the use of firearms, and defensive tactics.

DEP  officers protect the water supply of New York City as well as thousands of square miles of watershed lands in NYS.