599 Temporary changes to fishing regulations; trout and salmon regulations--Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay

FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION

Temporary Changes to Fishing Regulations; Trout and Salmon Regulations--Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay

[26 Pa.B. 1769]

   The Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, acting under the authority of 58 Pa. Code § 65.25, is taking immediate action to adjust the seasons and daily limits for trout and salmon taken from Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay. Effective at 8 a.m. on April 13, 1996, the following seasons, size and creel limits apply to trout and salmon taken from Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay:

Species	Seasons	Minimum Size	Daily Limit
Trout and Salmon	8 a.m., Apr. 13, 1996, to midnight Sept. 2, 1996	9 inches	eight (combined species), only two of which can be lake trout. Of the entire catch (combined species) only five may exceed 15 inches in length.

   The Executive Director finds that such action is necessary and appropriate for the protection and management of trout and salmon in these waters and to conserve and preserve fishing opportunities. The Fish and Boat Commission approved changes to trout and salmon limits on Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay as proposed and final rulemaking. As proposed, the amendment to 58 Pa. Code § 69.12 provided that the daily limit for trout and salmon would be eight (combined species) only two of which can be lake trout and of the entire catch (combined species) only three could exceed 15 inches in length. The same seasons, size and daily limits were proposed for Lake Erie tributaries (58 Pa. Code § 69.14). The Commission received no public comments concerning this proposed change to 58 Pa. Code § 69.12 and adopted it as final rulemaking at its January 1996 meeting. The order adopting regulation is pending publication.

   After the final rulemaking was approved, the Commission received inquiries and comments concerning the restriction that only three trout and salmon (combined species) per day could exceed 15 inches in length. It was pointed out that, on Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay, this could be unduly restrictive since a relatively high proportion of the catch of trout and salmon would exceed 15 inches. On March 22, the Commission's Fisheries Committee met and recommended that this provision be changed to allow five trout or salmon (combined series) in excess of 15 inches in length to be taken from Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay. The full Commission later approved this change in a notational vote and directed the Executive Director to proceed with publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking containing the change and to make a temporary change for the 1996 fishing season as set forth herein.

   Accordingly, the Executive Director is implementing the seasons, size and creel limits for trout and salmon for Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay as set forth in this notice as a temporary change to fishing regulations (58 Pa. Code § 65.25) in effect for the period 8 a.m., April 13, 1996, until midnight on September 2, 1996.

PETER A. COLANGELO,   
Executive Director

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-599. Filed for public inspection April 12, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]