What is this rule about?
This rulemaking will change the rules for culling fish on the border waters with Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. If you are not interested in this topic, you can disregard this rulemaking notice.
What will this rulemaking will do?
Culling fish, which is the act of replacing one fish held in possession with another, usually larger, fish, is a standard practice at most bass contests in many other states, including Wisconsin. Minnesota allows culling on inland waters. Minnesota originally instituted the no-cull rule years ago to match what was then Wisconsin’s prohibition on culling. In 2007, Wisconsin repealed their no-cull rule for bass contests. This rule change will make boundary water rules on culling fish consistent with inland water rules. The DNR is using an expedited rulemaking procedure to make these changes as soon as possible.
Who might be affected by these rule changes?
organizers and participants of fishing tournaments
recreational anglers
officials in bordering states
Where do I send my comments?
The DNR is accepting written comments until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2016. Send your comments to the DNR contact person listed below. Your comment must be in writing and received by the DNR contact person by the due date. Please review the entire Notice for more details.
You may request a hearing on these rules. If at least 100 persons submit a valid request for a hearing and a sufficient number do not withdraw their requests (reducing the number below 100), then a public hearing will be held before an administrative law judge. The Notice of Intent to Adopt Expedited Rules tells you how to submit a request for hearing to the DNR contact person.
Where can I get more information?
The following rulemaking documents are posted at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/rulemaking.html:
Proposed rules
Notice of Intent to Adopt Expedited Rules
If you want a free copy of the proposed rules, call or email the DNR contact person listed below.
DNR contact person: Al Stevens, Fish and Wildlife Division, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4020, 651-259-5239, [email protected]
