SJR 13 (LSB 2281XS (2) 88)

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 13

BY  R. TAYLOR

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

A Joint Resolution designating the channel catfish as the official state fish for the state of Iowa.

   WHEREAS, the channel catfish (ictalurus punctatus) is a native fish to Iowa’s prairie streams and rivers inhabiting all 99 counties, and is one of the most abundant fish in Iowa lakes, streams, and rivers; and
   WHEREAS, the channel catfish’s appearance is easily recognizable by its slender scaleless body, deeply forked tail, fleshy whiskers, and sharp spines; and
   WHEREAS, the channel catfish can be caught with a wide variety of tackle, most of which is inexpensive and available to all anglers; and
   WHEREAS, the channel catfish is excellent table fare, with Iowa anglers reporting that they eat catfish more often than any other sport fish; and
   WHEREAS, more Iowans participate in sport fishing than any other outdoor recreational sport with approximately 500,000 anglers spending approximately $300 million annually and generating $1.2 billion in economic activity; and
   WHEREAS, the channel catfish is the most preferred fish among Iowa anglers, reaching trophy size above 30 pounds and providing pole-bending action, with over 4 million caught annually; and
   WHEREAS, the channel catfish is an important fish to Mississippi River commercial fishers with approximately 400,000 pounds of channel catfish marketed each year from the river; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  STATE FISH DESIGNATED.  The channel catfish (ictalurus punctatus) is designated and shall be officially known as the state fish of Iowa.
    Sec. 2.  APPROPRIATE REPRESENTATIONS.  The director of the Department of Cultural Affairs shall obtain appropriate pictures and other representations of the channel catfish and shall display the pictures and representations in an appropriate place in the state historical museum.
    Sec. 3.  OFFICIAL REGISTER.  The editor of the Iowa official register shall include an appropriate picture and commentary of the channel catfish in the Iowa official register, along with the pictures of the state rock, state flower, state bird, and state tree.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This joint resolution designates the channel catfish as the official state fish of Iowa. The director of the department of cultural affairs shall obtain pictures and other appropriate representations of the state fish and display the pictures and information in the state historical museum. The editor of the Iowa official register shall include a picture of the state fish along with pictures of the state rock, state flower, state bird, and state tree.