| Harrisburg, PA, 7/16/08 – At its summer quarterly meeting yesterday, the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) voted to allow anglers to fish in lakes and ponds approved
as year-round trout waters without possessing a trout/salmon permit,
as long as anglers are not fishing for trout or salmon. Commissioners also voted to open 31 additional
approved trout waters to year-round fishing (view map of additional waters).
The changes to the lake and pond regulations were made after several individuals submitted public comments
noting that anglers often fish these waters for species other than trout. Both changes will take effect
Jan. 1, 2009.
At the start of the meeting, Commissioners Leonard L. Lichvar and Thomas C. Shetterly were
elected President and Vice President, respectively, of the PFBC. New Commissioner Norman Gavlick, of
Kingston, was also introduced. He was appointed to serve as the Seventh District
Commissioner.
In other action, the Commission voted to add regulations to further restrict the interstate sale, introduction
and transportation of fish susceptible to the infectious disease viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS.
Outdoor
enthusiasts in Erie County will have more opportunities to fish, boat, and hike with the Commission
action to approve a cooperative agreement with North East Township that commits $43,000 for the acquisition
of an access easement located on 20-mile Creek, a popular steelhead fishing location.
The Commission also:
- Approved
restrictions on nighttime fishing on a section of Walnut Creek, Erie County.
- Adopted amendments
to Fish and Boat Code Section 63.8 (Longbows, Crossbows, Spears, and Gigs) to allow catfish to be
harvested in all Commonwealth waters by longbows and arrows, not just the Delaware River.
- Adopted
a statement of policy on wind power.
- Approved
the publication of notice of proposed rulemaking to remove smallmouth buffalo, longhead darter, and
channel darter from the threatened species list and river redhorse and longnose gar from the candidate
species list.
The complete agenda is available at http://www.fish.state.pa.us/minutes.htm. The mission of the Fish
and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing
and boating opportunities. For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, please visit our website
at www.fishandboat.com. |
