Conservation

The Conservation Department was established in 1977 by SNI Council resolution for the creation of a department responsible for enforcement of SNI laws, ordinances and codes dealing with hunting, fishing, conservation, environmental, sand and gravel and solid waste ordinances. The department is specifically responsible for the enforcement, protection, apprehension, arresting, detaining, citing and confiscation of vehicle, equipment and personal possessions of violators and the aforementioned violations.

The Council has extended the temporary amendments to the Comprehensive Conservation Law of the Seneca Nation, as follows:

• Fishing Licenses sold during the calendar year 2025 shall be automatically extended until April 1, 2026;
• Beginning on January 1, 2026, the Clerk's Office may issue temporary fishing permits subject to the terms and conditions of these temporary amendments and the Comprehensive Conservation Law;
• Such temporary fishing permits issued by the Clerk's Office shall expire on April 1, 2026;
• The Clerk's Office may make temporary fishing permits available at the Clerk's Office, Highbanks Campground, and Seneca One Stops;
• Licensees and permittees shall be prohibited from fishing in the restricted areas identified in the attached maps of the Allegany (Appendix A) and Cattaraugus (Appendix B) Territories unless they are accompanied by an enrolled member;
• Enrolled members may accompany no more than one licensee into a restricted area, except that an enrolled member may accompany immediate family members into the restricted areas so long as such immediate family members shall have valid temporary fishing licenses or temporary fishing permits;
• For the purposes of these temporary amendments, "immediate family member" shall have the same definition as the Seneca Nation Ethics Law; and
• The use of lead sinkers, including split shot, weighing one-half ounce or less is prohibited.

The temporary amendments shall expire and be of no further force or effect on April 1, 2026.