A stakeholder group will come back with recommendations on how to protect certain species. More resources will be poured into the DNR's study of native rough fish.The law requires a waste container to be secured to the angler's shelter, motor vehicle or other fishing "conveyance." Ice-fishing litterbugs will be subject to a $100 fine for each violation of a new law aimed to prevent garbage, excrement and other waste from hitting the ice.By rule, the DNR may allow two-line fishing on areas of Lake Superior. Now two lines also may be used in the Minnesota River downstream from the Granite Falls Dam and in the Mississippi downstream of St. During ice fishing, anglers already can use two lines.To manage invasive carp, $1.72 million goes to a new work group, including experts at the University of Minnesota to study and provide preliminary design for a lock and dam barrier on the Mississippi River.The new operating funds will bolster staffing at the DNR to conduct more fish population surveys and other research needed to maximize fish stocking.The same money will cover advances in water control structures on shallow lakes. About $10 million in new money will go for fish-passage improvements along cold-water trout streams on the North Shore as well as other stream restoration projects in the state.Another $35 million is earmarked for new gravel, docks, bathroom facilities and other improvements to boat access infrastructure on lakes and rivers.Other hatcheries will be updated with $35 million in new operating money also covering expansion of fishing piers and other shore-fishing facilities.The Waterville fish hatchery will be rebuilt for $18 million to $20 million. Fee increases for fishing licenses, originally sought by the DNR, will not happen.On the policy side, the bill declares a moratorium on new deer farms, allows for crossbow use regardless of a hunter's age, allows for some two-line fishing, gives the DNR new authority to allow emergency importation of minnows from neighboring states, and makes way for a new work group to study the feasibility of a river barrier to block invasive carp. In addition, the agency will receive more than $116.6 million in direct cash from a $1.3 billion capital investment plan sourced from the state's $17.5 billion budget surplus. The finalized environment and natural resources bill will send $308 million in new operating money to the DNR, spread over the next two fiscal years. "These investments will transform our work," Strommen said. High on the list of priorities is DNR's fish-stocking program. "As we build these things out, it's going to be transformational," said Bob Meier, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) assistant commissioner.ĭNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen called it a "truly historic investment in natural resources and outdoor recreation." She said Minnesotans who visit lakes, wildlife management areas, state parks, state forests, trails and other public lands will see improvements over the next couple of years. Tim Walz might be considered a record catch.īundled in a stringer full of policy changes and millions of new dollars benefitting outdoor recreation, a multifaceted bill approved by the House and Senate broke a yearslong stalemate at the Capitol on issues important to hunters and anglers. If you care about fishing, final legislation heading to the desk of Gov.
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