Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission will hear an update on the proposed 2011 sport fish proposals and an overview of Tennessee’s trout program at its September meeting. The TWRC will meet September 22nd-23rd in Crossville at the Hampton Inn.
The commission was presented the 2011 sport fish proposals at its August meeting. An update on two sport fish changes, that were mentioned at the August 2010 Commission meeting (Whiteville Lake crappie and the closed fishing zone in Cherokee Reservoir), will be made.
As was discussed at the August commission meeting, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that shovelnose sturgeon be listed as a “similarity of appearance” species with the federally endangered pallid sturgeon. Proclamation 10-12 amends the commercial fishing proclamation to prohibit the take (harvest) of this species by commercial fishing activities in Tennessee. In addition, due to the action taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on shovelnose sturgeon, the agency is proposing to prohibit the harvest of this species by sport fishing methods as well.
The overview of the state’s trout program will include the species stocked, number produced, status of the trout hatcheries, and future management plans for various trout fisheries.
The agency was contacted by Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) with an offer to lease approximately 4,100 acres of land in Hardin County as a Wildlife Management Area. The lease agreement would start with the current hunting season for five years. In July 2013, the Agency will pay a $3.00 per acre lease fee, for 2 years. In 2015, the Agency and PCA will evaluate the conditions of the lease, and negotiate new lease terms as appropriate.
TWRA staff will provide an update on mining issues related to the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area (NCWMA).
Committee meetings will begin at 1:00pm on September 22nd and the TWRA meeting will start at 9:00am on September 23rd. The public is invited to attend.
