2015-16 Sport Fishing Regulations Postponed Until December Meeting
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission postponed decisions on the 2015-16 sport fish regulations until its December meeting. The action came during the commission’s October 29-20 meeting held in Greeneville at the General Morgan Hotel Conference Center.
The TFWC also proposed an amendment to the sport fishing regulations (proclamation 14-17) that would change regulations to smallmouth bass on Douglas Lake. The proposal would change the smallmouth minimum length to 16 inches with a five bass daily creel limit in combination with other black bass.
Fisheries Division Chief Bobby Wilson presented a pair of the division’s annual awards during this month’s meeting. Both award winners serve in TWRA Region IV.
Russell Young was named the Technician of the Year. He has been employed with TWRA since 1991 and currently serves as the Region IV reservoir fisheries habitat coordinator.
Bob Robertson was the recipient of the Biologist of the Year honor. He has been with the TWRA since 1982. For the past 27 years, he has served as hatchery manger position at Morristown Hatchery. He oversees the management of 11.5 acres of production ponds.
The TFWC was given presentations on the Appalachian Bear Rescue. TWRA Wildlife and Forestry Division Chief Daryl Ratajczak, who was on the original staff for Appalachian Bear Rescue in 1997, recognized the facility and President Dana Dodd for reaching a milestone. There have been 200 bears that have been rescued at the Townsend facility.
The commission was also advised of TWRA’s quail program and the progress made at Kyker Bottoms Refuge in southern Blount County. Bill Smith, Wildlife Manager, was presented an award from the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative for his efforts in quail restoration.
A status of TWRA’s warm water and cold water hatcheries was presented. TWRA Hatchery Coordinator David Roddy made the presentation. He reported, that in 2013, more than 8.5 million fish were stocked into Tennessee waters by the TWRA.
Dr. Jean Brennan, coordinator for the Appalachian Landscape Conservation Cooperative, gave an update on the cooperative’s progress. The Appalachian Landscape Conservation Cooperative is an applied science and management partnership working to protect natural lands, valued resources and the biological diversity that provide environmental benefits and services to the human communities across the region.
The TFWC’s next meeting is Friday, Dec. 5 at the TWRA Region II Ray Bell Building in Nashville. The one day meeting starts at 9 a.m. and is open to the public.
---TWRA---