The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission has placed a
temporary ban on the transportation of live fish from Lake Erie and its
tributary waters inland.
PFBC Executive Director Doug Austen signed an order this morning
making it unlawful to transport or cause the transport of live fish out
of the Pennsylvania portion of the Lake Erie watershed. Waters included
in the Pennsylvania portion of the Lake Erie watershed are Twentymile
Creek, Orchard Beach Run, Sixteenmile Creek, Twelvemile Creek, Eightmile
Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Sixmile Creek, Fourmile Creek, Mill Creek,
Cascade Creek, Walnut Creek, Trout Run, Godfrey Run, Elk Creek, Crooked
Creek, Raccoon Creek, Turkey Creek, Conneaut Creek, Ashtabula Creek and
their tributaries.
The Executive Director has found that this action is necessary and
appropriate for the protection, preservation and management of fish. The
intent of the ban is to help reduce the potential spread of exotic fish
species and fish diseases found in the Great Lakes to the state’s inland
waters.
The temporary ban goes into effect immediately and will remain in
place until January 1, 2008. The Commission, under a separate
notice
of proposed rulemaking, will seek public comments on a permanent
change to the Commission’s fishing regulations. A vote on adopting a
permanent regulation is expected later this year.
