Text: HSB00669 Text: HSB00671 Text: HSB00600 - HSB00699 Text: HSB 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 population of washboard 1 16 mussels among the beds along the Mississippi river. The 1 17 department shall conduct independent field investigations of 1 18 the various mussel beds in boundary waters of this state. The 1 19 department shall fund up to fifty percent of the cost of the 1 20 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 to conduct the study and investigation. The 1 24 department shall review current scientific studies conducted 1 25 by other state natural resource agencies, federal wildlife and 1 26 natural resource agencies, and private parties including 1 27 commercial fishers, shell buyers, and shell exporters. 1 28 The department shall report its findings to the 1 29 chairpersons and ranking members of the house committee on 1 30 natural resources and the senate committee on natural 1 31 resources and environment not later than January 15, 2003. 1 32 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of 1 33 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 1 34 EXPLANATION 1 35 This bill provides for an open season each year for the 2 1 taking of washboard mussels. The open season is from April 1 2 2 through August 31. The minimum size for taking a washboard 2 3 mussel is four inches. 2 4 The bill also provides that mussels may be taken from any 2 5 waters of the state. Currently, rules limit commercial mussel 2 6 harvesting to the Mississippi river and its connected 2 7 backwaters. 2 8 The bill requires the department of natural resources to 2 9 conduct a study of the populations of the various mussel 2 10 species in the waters of the state with emphasis on washboard 2 11 mussels in beds along the Mississippi river. The department 2 12 is to conduct an independent investigation of the various 2 13 mussel species and beds. The department shall match up to 50 2 14 percent of the cost of the field investigation with the 2 15 commercial mussel industry and shall contract with a 2 16 malacologist who is acceptable to the commercial mussel 2 17 industry to conduct the study and investigation. The 2 18 department shall also review recent studies conducted by other 2 19 state natural resource agencies, federal wildlife and natural 2 20 resource agencies, and private parties including commercial 2 21 fishers. The department is to report its findings to the 2 22 chairpersons and ranking members of the house committee on 2 23 natural resources and the senate committee on natural 2 24 resources and environment not later than January 15, 2003. 2 25 This bill takes effect upon enactment. 2 26 LSB 4311HC 77 2 27 tj/sc/14.1
Text: HSB00669 Text: HSB00671 Text: HSB00600 - HSB00699 Text: HSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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