_____________ bill NO. _____________
INTRODUCED
BY _________________________________________________
By Request of the ****
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS RELATED TO FISHERIES MANAGEMENT; ESTABLISHING A SPORT FISHING ENHANCEMENT POLICY; PROVIDING FINDINGS AND DEFINITIONS; REVISING MANAGEMENT FOR CERTAIN SPECIES; and REQUIRING AN UPDATED STATE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN."
WHEREAS, angling generates nearly $1 billion in annual spending statewide; and
WHEREAS, the total number of angler days in Montana has declined in many of the past few years; and
WHEREAS, a large percentage of the sport fish caught in Montana are nonnative fish species.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
NEW SECTION. Section 1. Sport fishing enhancement policy -- definition -- reporting. (1) In recognition of the cultural and economic importance of sport fishing in the state, the legislature establishes the following sport fishing enhancement policy:
(a) The department shall take all appropriate steps to improve and enhance fishing opportunities for fish species of greatest importance.
(b) By January 1, 2023, the department shall update the state fisheries management plan to ensure the maintenance of healthy and viable populations of fish species of greatest importance. The department shall seek and consider public input in the process, including through extensive public meetings.
(c) For any management project to assist native threatened, endangered, or sensitive fish species that reduces sport fishing opportunities for a fish species of greatest importance, including but not limited to rotenone treatment or reduced catch for each day or allowable in-possession limits approved by the commission, the commission shall consider replacement sport fishing opportunities for that species.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the term "fish species of greatest importance" includes rainbow, brown, brook, westslope cutthroat, Yellowstone cutthroat, and bull trout, artic grayling, mountain whitefish, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, kokanee salmon, paddlefish, bass, crappie, catfish, sauger, lake trout and lake whitefish, and other game fish.
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 87, chapter 3, part 2, and the provisions of Title 87, chapter 3, part 2, apply to [section 1].