pa-56-37-1325: Special fishing regulations; miscellaneous special regulations

Summary

The Fish and Boat Commission (commission) amends § 65.24 (relating to miscellaneous special regulations). The commission is publishing this final-form rulemaking under the authority of 30 Pa.C.S. (relating to Fish and Boat Code). This amendment increases the minimum size limit (MSL) for trout to 9 inches. A. Effective Date This final-form rulemaking will go into effect on January 1, 2027. B. Contact Person For further information on this final-form rulemaking, contact Robert J. Schefter, Esq., P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000, (717) 705-7810. This final-form rulemaking is available on the commission's website at pa.gov/agencies/fishandboat. C. Statutory Authority The provisions of the amendment to § 65.24 are published under the authority of 30 Pa.C.S. §§ 322, 2102 and 2307 (relating to rules and regulations; and waters limited to specific purposes) and amended under the authority of 30 Pa.C.S. § 2307(a), 65 Pa.C.S. § 710 (relating to rules and regulations for conduct of meetings) and section 506 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 186). D. Purpose and Background Prior to this final-form rulemaking, the MSL for trout was 7 inches under § 65.24. The MSL for trout was previously amended in 1983 as part of the commission's Operation Future when the MSL was increased from 6 inches to 7 inches to provide additional protection to wild brook trout populations. Commission staff evaluated wild brook trout data collected through electrofishing surveys over the...

The agency’s own summary, as published.