DTSC Runs Roughshod Over Anglers, Despite No Scientific Basis

(Sacramento, CA): Today, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced that common fishing tackle would remain on a list of consumer products marked to undergo a costly and onerous regulatory process, a reckless move that could lead to a ban on most of today’s fishing tackle and will likely accelerate the decline in fishing participation, threaten jobs and reduce state revenue.

DTSC admitted in public hearings that it has no scientific studies demonstrating that lead poses an environmental problem in California. Yet, as evidenced its decision today, DTSC has declared fishing gear to be one of the top seven most significant threats to health faced by Californians and its environment.

“State regulators failed to comply with state law that requires them to conduct an independent analysis before including any product in this regulatory process. The inclusion of fishing tackle will likely harm recreational fishing and the jobs that depend on it,” said David Dickerson, President of the California Sportfishing League. “It appears that politics, rather than science, was the basis for DTSC’s decision. While there are many sources of pollution that pose a serious threat to California’s ocean and streams, anglers are not among them.”

In 2010, the U.S. EPA ruled that lead weights do not pose an unreasonable risk to wildlife and this past December, President Barack Obama signed a budget bill that prohibits the use of federal dollars to ban lead fishing weights. Read more

The seven-member Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) approved and signed Fisheries Order 215.15, during their April 9 meeting, which establishes a year round catch-and-immediate-release bass season for all Michigan waters where angling is permitted. This Order also set seasons and harvest numbers for several other cool water species, representing the first time the NRC has exercised its new exclusive authority to set sport fish regulations as granted by the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 2014. Read more

The Department of Natural Resources has approved the second round of projects under its Aquatic Habitat Grant Program. A total of 18 applications seeking $3.4 million were received and evaluated. The DNR has approved the following seven projects totaling $1.25 million:

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The Department of Natural Resources recently stocked coho salmon in the Platte River near the Platte River State Fish Hatchery in Beulah (Benzie County), Michigan.  

The Platte River is the birthplace of coho salmon in the Great Lakes, following the species’ experimental introduction there in 1966 to control the alewife population and to create a sport fishery. Today, nearly 50 years later, the Platte River State Fish Hatchery is the only hatchery in Michigan that rears coho salmon. The hatchery also serves as the primary egg source for the Great Lakes. Read more

The Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone that after the heavy ice and snow cover melt on Michigan’s lakes this early spring, it may be common to discover dead fish or other aquatic creatures. This year’s winter with heavy snow, extreme cold temperatures and thick ice cover will create conditions that cause fish and other creatures such as turtles, frogs, toads and crayfish to die.

“Winterkill is the most common type of fish kill,” said DNR fisheries habitat specialist Chris Freiburger. “Given the conditions this winter with thick ice and deep snow cover, it will be particularly common in shallow lakes and streams and ponds. These kills are localized and typically do not affect the overall health of the fish populations or fishing quality.”

Winterkill occurs during especially long, harsh winters. Shallow lakes with excess aquatic vegetation and soft bottoms are particularly prone to this problem. Fish and other aquatic life typically die in late winter, but may not be noticed until a month after the ice leaves the lake because the dead fish and other aquatic life are temporarily preserved by the cold water.  Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is set to jaw tag nearly 3,000 walleyes in Saginaw Bay this spring. Anglers are asked to collect information on tagged fish they catch and to report it to the DNR.

The DNR has tagged more than 100,000 walleyes in that water body since 1981. Jaw tagging is part of a long-term research project to monitor survival and harvest rates and to learn about walleye movement. The program depends on anglers to report when they catch a tagged walleye, as well as the fish’s length, weight (if known) and tag identification number. Once reported, anglers will receive a letter back detailing the history of their fish.

About 10 percent of the tags include a $100 reward for reporting the tag. Each tag is stamped with a unique identifying number and a P.O. box address. If anglers prefer, they can report their tagged walleyes online at www.michigandnr.com/taggedfish/. Anglers can keep the fish, of course, or release it if they prefer. Read more