| Dauphin County — The Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission took action to prohibit bass fishing
tournaments on the Susquehanna River that permit the killing of black
bass during its winter quarterly meeting in Harrisburg on Tuesday.
After seeking public input, the Commission passed the prohibition
of bass fishing tournaments on the West Branch, North Branch and main
stem of the Susquehanna River that permit the killing of black bass.
This prohibition was generated in response to angler concerns about
organized events that focus on taking black bass, especially at a time
when agency biologists and bass fishermen have concerns about the
relatively weak reproduction of young smallmouth bass in parts of the
river system in recent years. The amendment does not apply to
tournament harvest of species other than black bass.
In a related action, the Commission authorized funding of up to
$200,000 from the Fish Fund to conduct a study of the water quality of
the Susquehanna River.
With respect to other regulatory matters, the Commission:
 | Amended the definition of
boating safety
education certificates and the criteria for courses of
instruction in boating safety education. |
| Changed the upper limit of the slow, no-wake zone on the
Allegheny River from the Fort Wayne (Norfolk Southern) Bridge to the
9th Street Bridge. |
| Approved the publication of a proposed wind power policy to
address wind energy project development and its potential to
significantly impact species under the Commission’s jurisdiction and
their habitats. |
| Approved a
notice of proposed rulemaking establishing a special regulation
for Approved Trout Waters Open to Year-Round Fishing. |
| Approved a notice of proposed rulemaking amending special
regulations applicable to Lake Erie tributary streams that provide
that from 12:01 a.m. on the day after Labor Day until the first
Saturday after April 11 of the following year, these streams are
closed to fishing from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on the following day
except for Walnut Creek north of Manchester Road Bridge and Elk
Creek north of Route 5. |
In other action, the Commission:
| Authorized the Executive Director to allocate up to $100,000 for
the decommissioning of the Big Spring State Fish Hatchery,
Cumberland County. |
| Authorized the acquisition of property rights along Elk Creek in
Girard Township, Erie County. |
| Authorized the acquisition of property rights along Tea Creek in
Brown Township, Mifflin County. |
| Approved grant monies for a number of projects. |
The complete agenda, with additional background information on
these items, can be found at the
Agendas & Minutes
section of the Commission’s web site. |
