Text: HF02505 Text: HF02507 Text: HF02500 - HF02599 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 482.12A MUSSEL FISHING – SEASON
1 2 – AREAS.
1 3 1. Notwithstanding sections 481A.38, 481A.39, 482.1, and
1 4 482.12, the open season for taking washboard mussel each year
1 5 shall be from April 1 to August 31. The washboard mussel
1 6 shall be taken only during the hours between sunrise and
1 7 sunset. The minimum size limit on washboard mussel shall be
1 8 four inches.
1 9 2. Mussels may be taken from any waters of the state
1 10 during the open season.
1 11 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 482.12B SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF MUSSEL
1 12 POPULATIONS – REPORT.
1 13 The department of natural resources shall conduct a study
1 14 of the populations of various mussel species in the waters of
1 15 this state with emphasis on the sublegal population of
1 16 washboard mussels among the beds along the Mississippi river.
1 17 The department shall conduct independent field investigations
1 18 of the various mussel beds in boundary waters of this state.
1 19 The department shall fund up to fifty percent of the cost of
1 20 the field investigations with the commercial mussel industry
1 21 contributing the remainder. The department shall contract
1 22 with a malacologist who is acceptable to the commercial mussel
1 23 industry and the department to conduct the study and
1 24 investigation. The department shall review current scientific
1 25 studies conducted by other state natural resource agencies,
1 26 federal wildlife and natural resource agencies, and private
1 27 parties including commercial fishers, shell buyers, and shell
1 28 exporters.
1 29 The department shall report its findings to the
1 30 chairpersons and ranking members of the house committee on
1 31 natural resources and the senate committee on natural
1 32 resources and environment not later than January 15, 2003.
1 33 Notwithstanding section 482.12A, if the data in the report
1 34 supports a closed season for washboard mussels, the natural
1 35 resource commission may consider closing the season for
2 1 washboard mussels.
2 2 Sec. 3. Section 482.13, Code 1997, is amended to read as
2 3 follows:
2 4 482.13 RECIPROCITY FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING, COMMERCIAL
2 5 MUSSEL FISHING, AND COMMERCIAL TURTLE FISHING.
2 6 1. Reciprocal commercial fishing, commercial mussel
2 7 fishing, and commercial turtle fishing privileges are
2 8 contingent upon a grant of similar privileges by the
2 9 appropriate state to residents of this state.
2 10 2. The commission may negotiate commercial reciprocity
2 11 agreements with other states.
2 12 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of
2 13 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
2 14 EXPLANATION
2 15 This bill provides for an open season each year for the
2 16 taking of washboard mussels. The open season is from April 1
2 17 through August 31. The minimum size for taking a washboard
2 18 mussel is four inches.
2 19 The bill also provides that mussels may be taken from any
2 20 waters of the state. Currently, rules limit commercial mussel
2 21 harvesting to the Mississippi river and its connected
2 22 backwaters.
2 23 The bill requires the department of natural resources to
2 24 conduct a study of the populations of the various mussel
2 25 species in the waters of the state with emphasis on the
2 26 sublegal population of washboard mussels in beds along the
2 27 Mississippi river. The department is to conduct an
2 28 independent investigation of the various mussel species and
2 29 beds. The department shall match up to 50 percent of the cost
2 30 of the field investigation with the commercial mussel industry
2 31 and shall contract with a malacologist who is acceptable to
2 32 the commercial mussel industry and the department to conduct
2 33 the study and investigation. The department shall also review
2 34 recent studies conducted by other state natural resource
2 35 agencies, federal wildlife and natural resource agencies, and
3 1 private parties including commercial fishers. The department
3 2 is to report its findings to the chairpersons and ranking
3 3 members of the house committee on natural resources and the
3 4 senate committee on natural resources and environment not
3 5 later than January 15, 2003. The natural resources commission
3 6 may consider closing the season for washboard mussels if
3 7 supported by the data in the report.
3 8 The bill also makes reciprocal commercial mussel fishing
3 9 privileges contingent upon a grant of similar privileges by
3 10 the appropriate state to residents of this state.
3 11 This bill takes effect upon enactment.
3 12 LSB 4311HV 77
3 13 tj/sc/14
Text: HF02505 Text: HF02507 Text: HF02500 - HF02599 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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