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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