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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