HF 245

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 01/30/2023 05:29pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; appropriating money for a report on rough fish.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin NATIVE FISH CONSERVATION; APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin (a) $134,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $134,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from
the heritage enhancement account in the game and fish fund to the commissioner of natural
resources for native fish conservation and classification.
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new text begin (b) By August 1, 2023, a written update on the progress of identifying necessary
protection and conservation measures for native fish currently defined as rough fish under
Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.015, subdivision 43, including buffalo, sucker, sheepshead,
bowfin, gar, goldeye, and bullhead, must be submitted to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction
over the environment and natural resources.
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new text begin (c) By December 15, 2023, a written report with recommendations for statutory and rule
changes to provide necessary protection and conservation measures and research needs for
native fish currently designated as rough fish must be submitted to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and divisions with
jurisdiction over the environment and natural resources. The report must include
recommendations for amending Minnesota Statutes to classify fish that are native to
Minnesota that are currently designated as rough fish and invasive fish currently designated
as rough fish separately. For the purposes of this paragraph, native fish include but are not
limited to bowfin (Amia calva), bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus), smallmouth buffalo
(Ictiobus bubalus), burbot (Lota lota), longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus), shortnose gar
(Lepisosteus platostomus), goldeye (Hiodon alosoides), mooneye (Hiodon tergisus), and
white sucker (Catostomus commersonii), and invasive fish include but are not limited to
bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and
silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix).
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