Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildlife And Fisheries topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tennessee Wildlife rules add species, bar commercial sale of trophy catfish and move voter education fee into rule
Summary
The committee backed two sets of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency rules: one adding nine fish species and closing a loophole that allowed private businesses to stock and charge the public to catch trophy catfish; the other moves a voter education exam fee from statute into rule without changing the fee amount.
The Joint Government Operations Committee on Sept. 17 voted to recommend two Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency rule changes: one updating the list of fish allowed for import and sale and tightening restrictions on trophy catfish in private, for‑profit facilities; the other moving a voter education exam fee from statute into rule.
Blair Beatty, legislative director for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, told the committee the first rule adds nine species to the list of fish that may be imported for sale in Tennessee or produced in licensed fish farms to reflect wholesale market realities. The agency also proposed language to prevent fish farms and “catch‑out” facilities from taking trophy catfish from public waters, placing them in a private business’s pond and charging the public to fish them. Beatty said the change responds to sportsmen and women who requested protection of trophy catfish as a public resource.
On a separate item the agency presented an amendment that moves the fee for the voter education exam and certificate from statute into rule, in line with Public Chapter 214 from the most recent session. Beatty said the move does not change the amount of the fee, only the placement (statute to rule); he said the fee currently has a statutory cap and no change to the dollar amount was proposed.
Both items drew no public comment at the hearing. Each received a positive recommendation from the committee and will move forward for final adoption in the administrative process.
