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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 24-564

NOTICES

FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION

Temporary Change to Fishing Regulations; 58 Pa. Code § 61.2. Delaware River, West Branch Delaware River and Estuary

[54 Pa.B. 2191]
[Saturday, April 20, 2024]

 The Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission (Commission), acting under the authority of 58 Pa. Code § 65.25 (relating to temporary changes to fishing regulations), has taken immediate action to amend 58 Pa. Code § 61.2 (relating to Delaware River, West Branch Delaware River and River Estuary). The Executive Director has amended this section to reduce the daily limit of striped bass to one and adjust the legal harvestable length slot limit to 22 to less than 26 inches from the Commonwealth line upstream to Calhoun Street Bridge (Delaware Estuary) from May 1, 2024, through May 31, 2024. Gear restrictions will remain the same. These actions are being taken to meet the requirements of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

 At its January 2024 quarterly meeting, the ASMFC's Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board, which includes the Commonwealth as a member, approved Addendum II to Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for striped bass. The Addendum modifies recreational measures to reduce fishing mortality by 14.1% in 2024, among other management provisions. Addendum II builds upon the 2023 emergency action by changing the measures in the FMP to reduce fishing mortality and support stock rebuilding. Addendum II measures must be implemented by May 1, 2024. This temporary change to 58 Pa. Code § 61.2 is designed to meet this objective in concert with a previous temporary change to fishing regulations which was published at 54 Pa.B. 69 (January 6, 2024).

 To address the coast-wide regulation directed by the ASMFC, the Commission's Executive Director has taken immediate action to make the following modifications to fishing regulation:

§ 61.2. Delaware River, West Branch Delaware River and River Estuary.

*  *  *  *  *

 (e) The following seasons, sizes and creel limits apply to the Delaware River, West Branch Delaware River and Delaware River tributaries from the mouths of the tributaries upstream to the limit of the tidal influence and the Lehigh River from its mouth upstream to the first dam in Easton, Pennsylvania:

SPECIES SEASONS
MINIMUM
SIZE
DAILY LIMIT
*  *  *  *  *
STRIPED BASS and HYBRID STRIPED BASS [April 1] May 1 through May 31 [21] 22 to less than
[24] 26 inches 		[2] 1
*  *  *  *  *

 The Executive Director will cause these temporary modifications to fishing regulations to be posted in the vicinity of the regulated waters, and the modified regulations will be fully effective and enforceable when so posted. These temporary modifications will remain in effect until January 1 of the following year or 6 months after they are effected, whichever comes later unless the Commission shall by then, by appropriate action, have approved the designation or redesignation of waters or shall have approved the revision to the regulation in question.

TIMOTHY D. SCHAEFFER, 
Executive Director

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-564. Filed for public inspection April 19, 2024, 9:00 a.m.]


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