pa-56-25-867: Special fishing regulations; miscellaneous special regulations

Summary

The Fish and Boat Commission (commission) proposes to amend § 65.24 (relating to miscellaneous special regulations). The commission is publishing this proposed rulemaking under the authority of 30 Pa.C.S. (relating to Fish and Boat Code). This amendment would increase the minimum size limit (MSL) for trout to 9 inches. A. Effective Date This proposed rulemaking, if approved on final-form rulemaking, will go into effect on January 1, 2027. B. Contact Person For further information on this proposed rulemaking, contact Robert J. Schefter, Esq., P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000, (717) 705-7810. This proposed 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 Under § 65.24, the MSL for trout is 7 inches. The MSL for trout was last amended in 1983 as part of the commission's Operation Future when the MSL was increased from 6 inches to the current 7-inch MSL to provide additional protection to wild brook trout populations. Commission staff evaluated wild brook trout data collected through electrofishing...

The agency’s own summary, as published.