SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 39

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

5577L.01I

      Whereas, sport fishing is a great industry, recreation, and occupation in Missouri; and

            Whereas, hand fishing, which is also referred to as "noodling", for channel, blue, and flathead catfish is one of the ultimate challenges in the arena of sport fishing; and

            Whereas, a growing number of catfishermen in Missouri, which includes men, women, and children, wish to participate in the age-old and challenging sport of hand fishing for catfish; and

            Whereas, hand fishing is a legalized sport in 13 states, 6 of which border Missouri; and

            Whereas, hand fishing studies have been conducted in some of these legal states which have shown to have no adverse or minimal effect on their catfish population; and

            Whereas, the Missouri Department of Conservation, Fisheries Division, when taking into account the impact of current liberal regulations relating to catfishing in Missouri, has not presented any compelling biological evidence that suggest legalizing hand fishing in Missouri would harm the resources; and

            Whereas, the Missouri Department of Conservation has stated that there are approximately 664,000 catfish anglers in Missouri, and by Missouri law, they can catch 5 flatheads, 5 blue cats, and 10 channel catfish, or 20 catfish a day, 365 days a year, or 7,300 catfish for each permit sold; and

            Whereas, Dr. Mark Morgan at the University of Missouri-Columbia conducted a study and found that there are approximately 2,000 hand fishers in Missouri; and

            Whereas, these hand fishermen are asking the Missouri Department of Conservation to allow them to hand catch 5 channel, blue, or flathead catfish in a 61-day statewide season for each permit sold, which would be 0.000685 percent of the 7,300 catfish now allowed each catfish angler in Missouri; and

            Whereas, during the 2005 and 2006 Missouri Department of Conservation's trial hand fishing season, there were only 159 hand fishing permits sold, and out of the 159 permits only 83 hand fishermen actually fished; and

            Whereas, these 83 hand fishermen only caught and kept 27 catfish, and caught and released 20 catfish in 201 trips on the Mississippi and South Fabius, two of the three rivers that were legal to hand fish in 2005 and 2006; and

            Whereas, the other catfish anglers that fished on the Mississippi and South Fabius in 2005 and 2006 caught 341 catfish that had been tagged by the Missouri Department of Conservation; and

            Whereas, the hand fishermen that fished on the Mississippi and South Fabius in 2005 and 2006 caught only 1 catfish that had been tagged by the Missouri Department of Conservation; and

            Whereas, the Missouri Department of Conservation canceled the five-year experimental trial hand fishing season after two years for no valid reason; and

            Whereas, the Missouri Department of Conservation survey of 6,000 catfish anglers in 2004 showed 51% supported a regulated hand fishing season, with only 22.9% opposed; and

            Whereas, the USDA Forest Service statewide survey of Missouri citizens conducted in 2004 showed 68% supported a regulated season and only 7% opposed; and

            Whereas, the second USDA Forest Service statewide survey of Missouri citizens in 2006 showed 70% in support and 9% opposed; and

            Whereas, the legalization of hand fishing is supported by the Missouri Farm Bureau, the Missouri Farmer's Union, MoFED, and the Missouri Trappers Association; and

            Whereas, the Missouri Department of Conservation is responsible for all Missouri state fishing and game regulations, and should provide hand fishers with appropriate information and regulations; and

            Whereas, recognizing and respecting the Research Division of the Missouri Department of Conservation, they should continue balanced research on hand fishing for channel, blue, and flathead catfish in conjunction with the catfish harvest evaluation project (CHEP); and

            Whereas, the Missouri Department of Conservation's out-of-state Independent Science Review Panel recommended further hand fishing evaluation; and

            Whereas, the Missouri Department of Conservation's mission statement states "to provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy and learn about fish, forest and wildlife resources":

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-fourth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby strongly encourage the Missouri Department of Conservation to have a pilot regulated statewide hand fishing season for channel, blue, and flathead catfish from June first to July thirty-first, beginning in 2008, to allow hand fishers to take 5 of these fish by hand; and

            Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for John Hoskins, Director of the Department of Conservation and each commission of the Conservation Commission of Missouri.