Emergency Rules Now in Effect

Natural Resources (6)

6. EmR1116 - Rule to amend section NR 25.05 (1) (c), relating to commercial fishing in outlying waters.

This emergency rule was approved by the governor on October 19, 2011.

The statement of scope for this rule, SS 023-11, was approved by the governor on September 15, 2011, published in Register No. 669, on September 30, 2011, and approved by The Natural Resources Board on October 26, 2011.

Finding of Emergency

The Department of Natural Resources finds that an emergency exists and the rule is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare. A statement of facts constituting the emergency is:

The current commercial season for whitefish from Lake Michigan and Green Bay closes one week before the season closure for state-licensed fishers in the State of Michigan. This limitation on fishing opportunities threatens the welfare of state-licensed commercial fishers in Wisconsin and makes these Wisconsin businesses less competitive with counterparts in Michigan. The additional business revenue, approximately $161,300, and improved competitiveness of the commercial fishing industry, rises to the standard of preservation and improvement of the public welfare required for emergency rule making.

The number of commercial fishers has been declining over the last 20 years from 145 to 57. While some of this decline has been due to consolidation, some of the reduction is due to adverse economics of the industry. This rule requires emergency action to enhance public welfare as it applies to the economic health of the commercial fishing industry, which requested this rule change.

Publication Date:

October 26, 2011

Effective Dates:

October 26, 2011 through March 23, 2012