Steve Hurst

Steve Hurst is Chief of the Bureau of Fisheries in the Division of Fish and Wildlife for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Steve has been with the DEC for over 30 years and has a wide variety of experience with the Bureau and Division's programs. He began his career as a Fish and Wildlife Technician, working on field studies out of the Cortand office. He then worked at a Fish Culturist at the South Otselic Hatchery, and as a Biologist and Unit Leader in Albany overseeing the comprehensive Fisheries data base. Before his re-appointment as Chief of Fisheries in 2017, Steve also served as the Chief of Administrative Services for the Division, where he helped lead division-wide strategic planning. In his current capacity, Steve is predominantly responsible for leading and administering the State’s freshwater fisheries program. He oversees 137 employees, 12 Fish Hatcheries, one Fish Disease Control Lab and two Great Lakes Research Stations.

Steve has an Associate of Applied Science degree from SUNY Cobleskill, a Bachelor’s of Science in Natural Resource Management from Cornell University, and a Masters of Public Administration from the Rockefeller School of Government (2004) where he focused on Policy & Decision Science and Systems Dynamics. Steve is a fellow of the National Conservation Leadership Institute and also serves on multiple interstate advisory panels and boards including the Council of Great Lakes Fisheries Agencies and the North East Fisheries Administrators Associations

Since returning to the job of Fisheries Chief, Steve has been focusing on responsible program planning and greater accountability in program delivery. He strongly believes in the delivery of good and transparent government, particularly one that includes the angling community in an open decision-making process. Steve views management of our fisheries resources as an intersection between fish communities, habitat, and anglers. As such he is always interested in hearing from anglers and engaging in dialog to help inform better management decisions for our fisheries.

He’ll be on hand at the Expo to provide anglers the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion in an open forum about fisheries management in New York. As an avid angler himself, Steve also welcomes genial conversations about the fishing experiences of our state's fishing public.