(b) Persons designated or appointed to the advisory council shall have demonstrated a long-standing interest, knowledge and experience in commercial or recreational harvesting of marine resources. 3. Meetings of the council. The council shall meet at least quarterly. 4. Duties of the advisory council. The advisory council shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To review the allocations and expenditures of the department for the care, management, protection and enlargement of marine resources and report to the commissioner by January first of each year. The commissioner shall, by February first of each year, submit such report, in its entirety, to the governor, the legislature and interested individuals and organizations. Such report shall include the findings of the advisory council regarding such allocations and expenditures, including expenditures and appropriations from the conservation fund and the extent to which such expenditures and appropriations are consistent with the requirements of state law.

(b) To make reports and release information from time to time as it deems necessary to commercial and recreational harvesters and users of marine resources and the general public regarding the marine resources program.

(c) To consult with commercial and recreational users of marine resources and make recommendations on program needs and on how such needs shall be met.

(d) To assist the department's efforts to expand the available sources of income for the marine resources account and advise the department with respect to the needs of those industries involved with the commercial and recreational harvesting of marine resources.

(e) To review proposed regulations pertaining to the conservation and management of marine fisheries, to consult with commercial and recreational users of such fisheries regarding such regulations, and to make recommendations and comments to the department regarding the adoption and modification of such regulations consistent with the policy and principles set forth in section 13-0105 of this article. 5. Term of appointment. All members of the council shall serve terms of three years provided, however, that of the members first appointed, one-third shall be appointed for a term of three years, one-third shall be appointed for a term of two years, and one-third shall be appointed for a term of one year. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made for the remainder of the affected term in the same manner as the original appointment was made. Such appointment shall be made within sixty days of the date the position becomes vacant. 5-a. Term of appointment. The new members appointed pursuant to subdivision two of this section as amended by a chapter of the laws of 1994 entitled "AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the marine fisheries conservation and management policy, various other provisions relating to the management of marine resources and repealing paragraph d of subdivision 2 of section 11-1319 of such law relating to the sale of billfish" shall be appointed to terms as follows: the member appointed by the majority leader of the senate and the member appointed by the speaker of the assembly shall each be appointed to a term of three years; and of the two members appointed by the commissioner, one shall be appointed to a term of two years and the other shall be appointed to a term of one year. 6. State assistance. The commissioner shall make any and all documents readily available to the council which the council indicates are needed to properly and thoroughly carry out its responsibilities. The commissioner shall also make available to the council such aid reasonably necessary to allow the council to carry out its duties and responsibilities.