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Commission cites hatchery investments, stocking strategy and outreach programs including probation initiative
Summary
Executive Director Tim Schafer told lawmakers the commission is investing in hatcheries and trucks, described trout permit trends and highlighted outreach programs including Trout in the Classroom and a probation-focused fishing program led by Rachel Hirsch.
Tim Schafer said the agency is making historic investments in its hatchery system, trucks and equipment to support stocking and habitat work across the Commonwealth.
"One of the things we're doing is making historic investments in our hatchery system and the trucks and the equipment that our staff uses," Schafer said during his presentation.
He described trout-related events and permit trends: Mentored Youth Trout Day (March 29) and opening day of trout season (April 5). Schafer said active fishing-license holders number about 825,000 and that trout-permit sales were down slightly from the prior year, in part because heavy rains affected opening-day fishing in some regions.
Schafer also described outreach programs. He introduced Rachel Hirsch, the commission's strategic initiatives coordinator, and summarized a program that trains probation officers in fishing skills and uses angling as an intervention tool. He said the commission currently partners with probation departments in Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland, York and Northampton counties and is expanding to other counties.
Schafer and other staff noted Trout in the Classroom and educational programs that place hatchery trout in school classrooms and bring students to rivers for hands-on activities.
Why it matters: Changes in stocking strategy, hatchery investment and outreach programs affect anglers, school programs and community-rehabilitation efforts that rely on commission resources.
