MUCC Action Alert: Protect MI Gamefish
Posted: October 7th, 2020, 5:00 pm
Dear Conservationist,
Current statutes and administrative rules regarding the licensing and regulation of commercial fishers in Michigan are decades old and do not sufficeintly protect game fish from commercial impacts. Further, MDNR conservation officers are unable to adequately protect the fisheries from exploitation and illegal activity due to the outdated statute. These bills address a long-needed statute update that would set parameters surrounding commercial fishing such as licensing fees, gear used and allowable species for harvest. Commercial fishers should be restricted from profiting off of game species that are managed and funded by hunters and anglers. The updates in these bills would protect gamefish, improve the fishery and clarify regulations for law enforcement.
We need your help in getting House Bills 4567, 68 and 69 to the governor’s desk. The bills have already passed the Michigan House of Representatives and are currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. Call your state senator today urging them to request that the bills be moved to the senate floor for a vote. Text FISHACT to 52886, or click this link to be brought directly to our policy action page.
Find your senator here: https://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysbyaddress.html
The Michigan Senate has had this package of bills in their chamber for eight months, held four committee meetings with substantial opportunity for public and stakeholder engagement and yet no action has been taken.
Call your state senator and tell them:
Current statutes and administrative rules regarding the licensing and regulation of commercial fishers in Michigan are decades old and do not sufficeintly protect game fish from commercial impacts. Further, MDNR conservation officers are unable to adequately protect the fisheries from exploitation and illegal activity due to the outdated statute. These bills address a long-needed statute update that would set parameters surrounding commercial fishing such as licensing fees, gear used and allowable species for harvest. Commercial fishers should be restricted from profiting off of game species that are managed and funded by hunters and anglers. The updates in these bills would protect gamefish, improve the fishery and clarify regulations for law enforcement.
We need your help in getting House Bills 4567, 68 and 69 to the governor’s desk. The bills have already passed the Michigan House of Representatives and are currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. Call your state senator today urging them to request that the bills be moved to the senate floor for a vote. Text FISHACT to 52886, or click this link to be brought directly to our policy action page.
Find your senator here: https://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysbyaddress.html
The Michigan Senate has had this package of bills in their chamber for eight months, held four committee meetings with substantial opportunity for public and stakeholder engagement and yet no action has been taken.
Call your state senator and tell them:
- You support House Bills 4567, 4568 and 4569 as passed by the House, which protect Michigan gamefish from commercial harvest and update decades old statute.
- That they should request that the package of bills be passed through the Senate Natural Resources Committee and brought to the senate floor for a vote.
- That the package of bills has been in their chamber for eight months now, and the time for action is NOW.