HARRISBURG,
Pa. (April 27) – During its formal quarterly business meeting held virtually on
April 27, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) Board of
Commissioners voted to ratify recent changes that were made to the 2020 trout
season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The retroactive
action is required under Section 65.25 (Pa. Title 58), which authorizes the PFBC
Executive Director to take immediate action to temporarily modify fishing
regulations to protect the safety and health of anglers. Such action was taken on
March 16, 2020 when, due to concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19
among large groups of anglers, the Regional Opening Day of trout season was
eliminated. Additional action occurred at 8:00 a.m. on April 7, 2020 when, in
consultation with the Governor’s office, Pennsylvania Department of Health and
the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the trout season
was immediately opened statewide with the intention of reducing large
gatherings of anglers around a traditional opening day.
In other
action, the Board approved the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking to
amend regulations related to Charter Boat/Fishing Guide operations. An internal
review of the current permit application process revealed a cumbersome system
that could be made more efficient through an online process. The amendments to Section
51 (Pa. Title 58) would allow for the application and issuance of Charter
Boat/Fishing Guide permits online exclusively through Pennsylvania’s online
fishing/hunting license portal The Outdoor Shop. As
part of this change, the requirement to display a decal on charter boats would
be removed. Moving forward, Waterways Conservation Officers (WCOs) would verify
applicant provided information during standard field checks. An additional
change would require an individual guiding on Commonwealth Waters to have a
Pennsylvania fishing license and permits. Under the current language, a
loophole was created that allows some nonresidents to guide on Commonwealth
Waters utilizing their out of state license with a Pennsylvania Nonresident
guide permit. If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, this
amendment will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Commissioners
approved the establishment of a new Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3)
Education Grant Program. This competitive grant program will provide funding to
support new programs and expand education programs directly related to R3 efforts
aimed at anglers and boaters. Organizations eligible for this funding include
school districts, universities and colleges, community and civic groups, sportsmen’s
and conservation organizations, and local recreation departments. Existing
programs will be eligible for funding only if they can demonstrate how the
additional funds will be used to expand the program. The R3 Grant will
reimburse qualifying organizations up to $25,000 for eligible program expenses
for the period ending June 30, 2021. The grants require a minimum of 25% cash
or in-kind match of staff time and/or other project expenses. The application
period for the 2020-2021 fiscal year will begin immediately and applications
will be accepted until June 30, 2020. Interested parties may apply online by
visiting https://www.fishandboat.com/Transact/Grants/Pages/R3GrantProgram.aspx.
Commissioners
approved the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend regulations
related to the sale and purchase of fish. The proposed amendment to Section
63.19 (PA Title 58) would exempt byproducts from PFBC recognized fish cleaning
stations from regulations requiring a fish to remain in-tact until reaching its
place of consumption. Currently, cleaning station operators are required to
grind carcasses and place byproduct into wastewater treatment or landfills. The
amended regulation would allow for the sale of byproducts to other entities for
further beneficial use such as fertilizer in agriculture. If adopted on final rulemaking
at a future meeting, this amendment will go into effect upon publication in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
In Centre and
Mifflin Counties, the Board voted to amend miscellaneous fishing regulations on
Penns Creek, Section 03, by extending the current regulations until further
notice. The regulation along this Class A wild trout stream containing a robust
population of wild Brown Trout, allows for the use of all tackle types and
harvest of up to two trout per day that are at least seven inches but less than
12 inches in length from the opening day of trout season through Labor Day. No
harvest is permitted for the remainder of the year. This regulation, originally
implemented in 2014, was set to expire on December 31, 2020.
Commissioners
approved publication of proposed rulemaking related to Striped Bass fishing
regulations. In accordance with a fisheries management plan adopted by the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Striped Bass Management
Board intended to reduce fishing mortality by 18%, the PFBC would change
minimum size requirements and slot limits for harvesting Striped Bass in the
Delaware Estuary, Delaware River, and West Branch Delaware River, and enact a
mandatory circle hook requirement for anglers using bait while fishing for all
species within the Delaware Estuary. These changes were implemented on a
temporary basis by the Executive Director on April 1 and are currently in
effect. A
news release issued on March 29 describes these changes in detail. These
temporary regulation changes will expire on December 31 unless the Commission
votes to adopt the regulations permanently. If adopted on final rulemaking at a
future meeting, this amendment will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin.
Pertaining
to real estate matters, Commissioners authorized the acquisition of a 5,340 linear
ft. easement along Conewago Creek in Butler Township, Adams County for approximately
$100,000. Pending further due diligence, the PFBC will pay approximately $84,000
and the Adams County Trout Unlimited Chapter will provide roughly $16,0000 towards
the purchase of the easement from Knouse Foods for public fishing, boating and
riparian and fishery management on the parcel of land along Russel Tavern Road
and Zeigler Mill Roads.
Commissioners
authorized the acceptance of a property donation of 2.25 acres along Rock Road
in Benner Township, Centre County. The donation, courtesy of the Stocker Family,
is surrounded on two sides by property currently owned by the PFBC and Penn State
University. Pending further due diligence, the acquisition of the property will
provide approximately 575 feet of combined stream frontage and public fishing
access along the east and west banks of Spring Creek.
The Board authorized
the leasing of Minsi Lake to Northampton County, which has operated the property
as a public park since 1975. The new 25-year agreement is consistent with previous
lease agreements between the parties, which required the property to remain
open to public fishing and boating free of charge.
In Luzerne
County, Commissioners voted to authorize a PFBC-owned property located at 1308
Susquehanna Avenue in West Pittston, Luzerne County to be deemed as surplus.
The PFBC will turn jurisdiction of the property over to the Pennsylvania
Department of General Services for disposition.
Commissioners
authorized a lease agreement that will provide temporary office space for PFBC Fisheries
Management staff at the Fairview State Fish Hatchery, Erie County. Under the
agreement, the 3,600 square foot office/warehouse building located at 8370 Middle
Road, Fairview, PA will be leased to the PFBC for a monthly fee of $1,625 for a
period of three years. Pending further due diligence, staff is expected to
occupy the leased facility while renovations are completed to the Fairview State
Fish Hatchery property.
In other
action, Commissioners approved the designation of 33 stream sections to the
list of Class A wild trout streams. The board also approved the addition of 85
new waters to the Commission's list of wild trout streams and a revision to the
section limits of eight waters. These additions and revisions will go into
effect upon the publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin. A list of waters proposed for wild trout stream and Class A Wild
Trout Stream designation can be found on the PFBC website.
In Erie
County, the Board approved the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking to
adopt new miscellaneous fishing regulations on Lake Pleasant. The new regulation
would prohibit the use of live or dead fish as bait (i.e., minnows); however, it
would allow for the use of “salted minnows” and terrestrial invertebrates (i.e.,
worms) for angling purposes. Additionally, the regulation would prohibit the
release of fish in the lake, except for those caught while angling at Lake
Pleasant. This prohibition aims to preserve the existing ecosystem
characteristics of Lake Pleasant, a pristine glacial lake, and protect native
and at-risk species from harmful impacts that may be associated with non-native
species. If approved on final rulemaking at a future meeting, the regulation
will go into effect January 1, 2021.
The Board
approved final rulemaking related to regulations regarding the importation of
Tautog into the Commonwealth. Currently, Tautog, also known as Tog or
Blackfish, which are a popular coastal Atlantic Ocean recreational marine
species, are prohibited from being imported, sold, offered for sale, or purchased
in Pennsylvania when measuring less than 15 inches. The amendment adds an
additional requirement that all Tautog possessed for commercial purposes or
sold in Pennsylvania should be properly tagged with a serial numbered metal
band on the gill cover, as approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission. Pennsylvania is an important marketplace of commercial seafood
including Tautog and this regulation change will provide PFBC Waterways Conservation
Officers with the authority to inspect for and enforce Tautog tagging
regulations and advance Tautog conservation along the Atlantic Coast. The
amendment will go into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania
Bulletin.
The Board
approved the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking related to the sale
of sand and gravel extracted from Commonwealth waters. Currently, four companies
maintain permits which allow the dredging of material from navigable waters in
Pennsylvania. Current royalty rates related to the sale of these materials were
adopted in 2011 and are set to expire on December 31, 2020. The new proposal establishes
royalty rates from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2030 under the same
scale as previous rates. If approved on final rulemaking, the amendment will go
into effect upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The Board voted
to amend the Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan Grant program to allow
the Executive Director to approve individual grants using up to $100,000 of
pass-through monies per grantee, per year for projects meeting the objectives
of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, the
Pennsylvania Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan and/or other non-native
species plans. For grants exceeding those amounts, staff will seek separate
Commission approval. This action will allow for the PFBC to partner with the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to utilize a $100,000 award from
Pennsylvania Sea Grant to evaluate the effects of gill lice in Brook Trout and
Rainbow Trout. An avenue to provide pass-through funds from Pennsylvania Sea
Grant to the USFWS did not previously exist.
The next
meeting of the PFBC Board of Commissioners is scheduled for July 20-21, 2020 at
PFBC headquarters located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA.
Today's meeting was streamed live on Facebook and can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/PaFishandBoat/videos/906536493174536/
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Mike Parker
Communications Director
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
(717)585-3076
michparker@pa.gov