ACTION ALERT: Keep Game Fish out of Commercial Fishing Nets
Posted: February 4th, 2020, 11:24 am
Keep Game Fish out of Commercial Fishing Nets
Dear Conservationist,
Help protect Michigan’s gamefish by contacting your state representative today!
We expect a package of bills that would update a decades-old commercial fishing statute to be hitting the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives this week. House Bill 4567, sponsored by Rep. O’Malley (R-Lake Ann), and House Bill 4568, sponsored by Rep. Wendzel (R-Watervliet) and House Bill 4569, sponsored by Rep. Lilly (R-Park Township) are all part of this tie-barred three-bill package.
These bills would:
Protect gamefish such as lake trout, walleye and yellow perch from commercial harvest and bycatch. These species are reared and managed through angler and hunter dollars, not commercial fishing monies.
Establish penalties for the taking, possessing and/or selling of specific species. Gamefish unlawfully taken will incur a higher fine.
Require commercial fishing operations to mark and report their nets via GPS to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, who will post these coordinates publically.
Provide funding for the oversight of the operations which will allow conservation officers to carry out their duties of enforcement.
Mandate regular reporting to aid in the scientific management of our fish species.
Use these talking points when contacting your state representative. To find your state representative or to use a pre-populated email, click here!
Please share this message widely with friends and family to ensure Michigan legislators hear our voice.
Sincerely,
Amy Trotter, Executive Director
Michigan United Conservation Clubs
Dear Conservationist,
Help protect Michigan’s gamefish by contacting your state representative today!
We expect a package of bills that would update a decades-old commercial fishing statute to be hitting the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives this week. House Bill 4567, sponsored by Rep. O’Malley (R-Lake Ann), and House Bill 4568, sponsored by Rep. Wendzel (R-Watervliet) and House Bill 4569, sponsored by Rep. Lilly (R-Park Township) are all part of this tie-barred three-bill package.
These bills would:
Protect gamefish such as lake trout, walleye and yellow perch from commercial harvest and bycatch. These species are reared and managed through angler and hunter dollars, not commercial fishing monies.
Establish penalties for the taking, possessing and/or selling of specific species. Gamefish unlawfully taken will incur a higher fine.
Require commercial fishing operations to mark and report their nets via GPS to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, who will post these coordinates publically.
Provide funding for the oversight of the operations which will allow conservation officers to carry out their duties of enforcement.
Mandate regular reporting to aid in the scientific management of our fish species.
Use these talking points when contacting your state representative. To find your state representative or to use a pre-populated email, click here!
Please share this message widely with friends and family to ensure Michigan legislators hear our voice.
Sincerely,
Amy Trotter, Executive Director
Michigan United Conservation Clubs