PATU continues to oppose stocking Class A Wild Trout Streams over wild brown trout populations while the PA Fish and Boat Commission is proposing relaxing the criteria used to consider approval of requests for exemption. Furthermore, PFBC proposes turning over authority to approve or deny exemption requests to the Executive Director. This move would remove the transparency PATU feels is necessary for this process.
This proposal was presented to the PFBC commissioners at their meeting on April 28 at which time an affirmative vote would approve these changes. However, after some lively discussion among the commissioners, the president expressed reservations regarding approving the policy and expressed his feeling that it warranted further discussion among the commissioners. There was a motion and a second to table the item and all commissioners voted in favor.
This move by the PFBC commissioners was unexpected, to say the least. There’s no way to predict what happens next with this proposal: however, PATU needs to continue to voice our opposition to stocking Class A streams and, if PFBC continues to all exemptions, to ensure transparency in the process.
If you would like to comment on this or any other PA Fish and Boat proposed regulation, please send your comments directly to the PFBC using the attached link below.