Section 57.1. Policy for the conservation and management of fishery resources

It will be the policy of the Commission to protect, conserve and enhance the quality and diversity of the fishery resource of this Commonwealth including reptiles and amphibians and to provide continued and varied angling opportunity through scientific inventory, classification and management of that resource. To achieve the objectives of this policy, the Commission will do all of the following:

(1) Establish and maintain a current data base on the quality and quantity of the aquatic and fishery resources of this Commonwealth for effective environmental protection and resource conservation.

(2) Develop Statewide management programs to assure consistent treatment of all resources within given class. Similar waters will be managed to meet the same objectives under the same philosophy on a Statewide basis.

(3) Manage self-sustaining fish populations as a renewable natural resource to conserve that resource and the angling it provides.

(4) Use hatchery fish to provide recreation in those waters where fish populations are inadequate to sustain the fishery at desired levels.

(5) Develop appropriate regulations and operational strategies to replace policies that are not compatible with management through resource classification.