Meeting Notes: Nov, 2008

This meeting was held at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Sport Fishing Education Center (SFEC) and Aquaculture Facility located on Ocean Parkway in Babylon. John Mantione, administrator of the center, gave us a history of the SFEC -  how it   was formed and it's purpose. This Center is a first of it’s kind in the State of New York and is due to the joint efforts of Assemblyman Bob Sweeney, the New York Fishing Tackle Trade Association Inc. and the Town of Babylon (for donating the land). The Center offers schoolchildren and adults year-round exciting marine science programs and field trips which explore the unique environments Long Island has to offer. The SFEC is about 10 years old. There was a lengthy discussion between LIAS members and John about the upcoming NYS salt water license and it's ramifications on sport fisherman. John and LIAS member Tracy Marcus (who works at the SEFC and arranged to have the meeting there) then conducted a tour of the center's aquaculture facility.