I haven’t heard that the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will submit any legislation this session, so I decided to give the legislature a chance to tackle some major issues. I’ve got outstanding sponsors for these two bills.
Simplify Fishing Rules
DIF&W’s Commissioner, Chandler Woodcock, informed the IF&W Committee last session that his agency would simplify the fishing rule book for 2017 and the fishing rules the following year. That seemed backwards to me. If they simplified the rules first, the rule book would automatically been easier to understand.
The agency also promised to work with anglers – especially the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine – in the effort to simplify the rules. But that has not happened.
This bill, sponsored by Representative Michelle Dunphy, will establish a Commission and charge it with returning to the legislature in 2018 with a list of recommendations that will simplify Maine’s fishing laws and rules. The 10-member commission would be composed of:
Two members of the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, one member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the House
Two licensed anglers, one member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the House
The Commissioner of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department or the commissioner’s designee
The Fisheries Division Director at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
One member of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council, appointed by DIF&W’s Commissioner
One member of a fish and game club, appointed by DIF&W’s Commissioner
One member of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, chosen by SAM’s executive director
One member of the Maine Professional Guides Association, chosen by the MPGA’s executive director
Hatcheries Commission
This bill, sponsored by Representative Jared Golden, would create an 11-member commission whose duties will include assessing and evaluating salmonid fish culture facilities in Maine and associated production and distribution capabilities, opportunities, needs, and contributions of stocked fish to Maine’s economy. The Commission will be required to submit its report and any accompanying legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by January 30, 2018. No major expenditures over $150,000 may be made to repair or upgrade DIF&W’s hatcheries until the report is received and acted on.
The Commission’s membership will be composed of:
Two members of the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, one member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the House
Two licensed anglers, one member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Speaker of the House
The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Hatcheries Superintendent
One fisheries biologist from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, appointed by DIF&W’s Commissioner
One member of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council, appointed by the Council
One member of a Fish and Game Club, appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
One member of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, chosen by SAM’s executive director
One member of the Maine Professional Guides Association, chosen by the MPGA’s executive director
One representative of the Maine aquaculture industry, chosen by the Maine Aquaculture Association