Assembly approves tighter protections for native amphibians and reptiles, bans clubbing and spearing

The Assembly approved legislation that increases protections for certain amphibian and reptile species and eliminates the ability to take those species by clubbing or spearing. The sponsor said the change updates statute to conform to Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regulations after a DEC special status assessment found population declines among several species.

"This is really about protecting native amphibians and reptiles because they are so endangered," the sponsor, Assemblymember Warner, told the Assembly. She said a DEC assessment of 18 amphibian species found seven were declining and nine had indeterminate status.

Floor questions focused on whether nonnative species such as bullfrogs would remain lawful to harvest and how the Department would specify allowable methods. The sponsor said the bill defers to the DEC for methods and details related to nonnative species. Members asked how changes would affect people who hunt or harvest nonnative species; the sponsor said the bill is intended to conform statute to current regulation while adding protections for native species.

The Assembly recorded an Ayes 142, Noes 4 vote. The sponsor read that the section would take effect immediately.

Why it matters: Sponsors said the change offers additional legal protection for native species that DEC assessments identified as declining; it also removes particularly injurious taking methods for those native species.

Implementation: The DEC will be responsible for specifying how any permitted harvest of nonnative species will be carried out under the law.