Avella Says Agency Couldn’t Justify Eradication
State Sen. Tony Avella announced the unanimous passage of his state legislation by the State Senate to establish a two-year moratorium on the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) controversial plan to eradicate all wild mute swans in the state by 2025 and declare them a “prohibited species.”
The bill (S.6589) will also require DEC to demonstrate that actual damage to the environment or other species have been caused by the mute swan population across the state.
“The facts do not support DEC’s plan to eradicate these beautiful creatures,” stated Avella. “With the passage of my bill, I think it is now quite clear that DEC’s careless plan to eradicate the entire mute swan species entailed too many questions and not enough answers. These birds have been around for decades and the population is estimated at only 2200. How can they be a threat to society? This has been a huge issue for the State of New York and I am glad that we will now have the time to properly examine and hopefully change this plan with legal protections that prevent harm to the swans and allow New York residents to live in harmony with these treasured birds.”
Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz carried the same-as version of Avella’s legislation in the Assembly, which passed the bill earlier last month. The bill will now be delivered to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his signature.
Avella said the passage of this legislation is a huge victory for animal rights and environmental protection groups who have rallied alongside him against DEC’s plan immediately after it was introduced last year.
