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Proposed & Recent Regulations
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The Fish and Boat Commission is the state agency with authority to adopt rules and regulations regarding fishing and boating. Before a regulation becomes final, the Commission must first publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Pennsylvania Bulletin seeking comments, objections or suggestions from the public. Comments are accepted for at least 30 days. After the public comment period, the Commission considers the proposed amendment "on final rulemaking." If adopted on final rulemaking, the amendment becomes effective on the date of publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin or other date specified by the Commission.

The Commission also publishes notices regarding issues, such as access closures, exclusive use areas and proposed special regulation designations. The Commission may or may not seek comments regarding these issues. Check individual notices for more information.

View more information about the rulemaking process

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Submit a Comment
Send comments electronically on proposed rulemakings and notices by completing the Rulemakings and Notices e-mail form....GO!
RULEMAKINGS
 
#207 Subject: Changes to threatened or candidate species lists...view proposal
Public Comment Period: September 13 through October 13, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Pending
Effective Date: Pending
 
#206 Subject: Right-to-Know Law...view proposal
Public Comment Period: September 6 through October 6, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Pending
Effective Date: Pending
 
#205 Subject: Fishing regulations -- fish eggs...view proposal
Public Comment Period: August 30 through September 30, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Pending
Effective Date: Pending
 
#204 Subject: VHS related fishing regulations...view proposal
Public Comment Period: September 6 through October 6, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Pending
Effective Date: Pending
 
#203 Subject: Catfish and herring bow fishing regulations...view proposal
Public Comment Period: June 14 to July 14, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: September 6, 2008
 
#202 Subject: Policy on wind power projects...view proposal
Public Comment Period: April 26 through May 26, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: September 13, 2008
 
#201 Subject: Prohibit fishing in Walnut Creek from Route 5 north to Manchester Road Bridge between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m...view proposal
Public Comment Period: April 5 through May 5, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: August 30, 2008
 
#200 Subject: Approved trout waters open to year-round fishing regulations...view proposal
Public Comment Period: April 5 through May 5, 2008
Final Rulemaking: AdoptedNew...view final
Effective Date: January 1, 2009
 
#199 Subject: Susquehanna River fishing tournaments...view proposal
Public Comment Period: December 8, 2007 through January 8, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: April 5, 2008
 
#198 Subject: Boating through waters with special fishing regulations...view proposal
Public Comment Period: December 8, 2007 through January 8, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: March 29, 2008
 
#197 Subject: Definition of Boating Safety Education Certificate...view proposal
Public Comment Period: December 8, 2007 through January 8, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: April 12, 2008
Related: Notice 4.4.08-Criteria for Courses of Instruction in Boating Safety Education
 
#196 Subject: Allegheny County boating regulations. Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers (City of Pittsburgh)...view proposal
Public Comment Period: December 8, 2007 through January 8, 2008
Final Rulemaking: Adopted ...view final
Effective Date: March 29, 2008
 
#195 Subject: Scientific Collector Permit Fees...view proposal
Public Comment Period: August 11 through September 11, 2007
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
 
#194 Subject: Minimum size for tautog...view proposal
Public Comment Period: June 16 through July 16, 2007
Final Rulemaking: Approved
Effective Date: August 25, 2007...view final
 
#193 Subject: Boundary waters fishing regulations...view proposal
Public Comment Period: June 16 through July 16, 2007
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
 
#192 Subject: License and reporting program for commercial fisheries for American eel...view proposal
Public Comment Period: May 12 through June 12, 2007
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: September 8, 2007
 
#191 Subject: Make it unlawful to transport live fish out of the Pennsylvania portion of the Lake Erie watershed...view proposal. Also see Notice -- VHS-Susceptible Species of Fish.
Public Comment Period: March 17 through April 17, 2007
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
 
#190 Subject: Remove Sugar Lake from miscellaneous special regulations...view proposal
Public Comment Period: March 17 through April 17, 2007
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
 
#189 Subject: Boating regulations: Sugar Lake, Crawford County and Cloe Lake, Jefferson County...view proposal
Public Comment Period: March 17 through April 17, 2007
Final Rulemaking: Adopted...view final
Effective Date: December 8, 2007
 
#185

Subject: Lake Erie seine permits...view proposal

Public Comment Period: September 9 through October 9, 2006
Final Rulemaking: Pending
Effective Date: Pending
 
NOTICES
 
10.29.08 Notice: Designations and Re-Designations of Waters Subject to Special Fishing RegulationsNew...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: January 1, 2009
 
9.19.08 Notice: Exclusive Use Fishing Areas -- Franklin CountyNew...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: January 1, 2009
 
7.1.08 Notice: Temporary Change to Fishing Regulations -- Egg Collection...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: July 1, 2008
 
7.1.08 Notice: Temporary Changes to Fishing Regulations -- Possession and Use as Bait of Eggs Taken from VHS-Susceptible Species of Fish...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: Immediately
 
7.1.08 Notice: Approved Courses of Instruction in Boating Safety Education...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: Immediately
 
7.1.08 Notice: Temporary Changes to Fishing Regulations Leaser Lake, Lehigh County...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: July 1, 2008
 
6.4.08 Notice: Transportation and introduction of VHS-susceptible species of fish into the commonwealth...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: Immediately
 
5.28.08 Notice: Proposed special fishing regulation designations...view notice.
Public Comment Period: June 7 through July 7, 2008
Effective Date: Pending
 
5.14.08 Notice: Alcohol Prohibition - Rock Hill Access, Conestoga River, Lancaster County...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: May 24, 2008
 
5.14.08 Notice: Corrected Notice-Transportation of VHS-susceptible fish out of the Lake Erie watershed...view notice. Original notice listed below (4.16.08)
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: May 3, 2008
 
4.25.08 Notice: Temporary changes to fishing regulations for Opossum Lake, Cumberland County...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: May 24, 2008
 
4.16.08 Notice: Transportation of VHS-susceptible fish out of the Lake Erie watershed...view notice. See corrected notice above (5-14-08).
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: May 3, 2008
 
4.9.08 Notice: Regional opening day of trout season for SW PA...view notice.
Public Comment Period: April 19 through June 19, 2008
Effective Date: Pending
 
4.4.08 Notice: Criteria for Courses of Instruction in Boating Safety Education...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: April 12, 2008
Related: Rulemaking #197-Definition of Boating Safety Education Certificate
 
3.4.08 Notice: Proposed Addition to List of Class A Wild Trout Waters - Big Rift Creek, Tioga County...view notice...view original notice.
Public Comment Period: March 15 – April 15, 2008
Effective Date: May 10, 2008
 
3.4.08 Notice: Classification of Wild Trout Streams - Additions, Deletions and Adjustments to List...view notice...view original notice.
Public Comment Period: March 15 – April 15, 2008
Effective Date: May 10, 2008
 
2.25.08 Notice: Time Restrictions -- Union Access, Susquehanna River, Luzerne County and Mountain Springs Lake, Luzerne County...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: Upon posting at the site
 
2.5.08 Notice: Temporary changes to special fishing regulations - Lake Erie tributary streams...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: Upon posting at the site
 
1.17.08 Notice: Lake Erie commercial fishing...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
 
11.26.07 Notice: Designations and Re-Designations of Waters Subject to Special Fishing Regulations...view notice.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
 
11.26.07 Notice: VHS-Susceptible Species of Fish...view notice. See Rulemaking 191 for additional information.
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: January 1, 2008
 
8.16.07 Notice: Add Luzerne County streams to Class A waters list...view notice
Public Comment Period: August 25 through September 25, 2007
Effective Date: October 20, 2007...view approved notice
 
7.23.07 Notice: Closure of Five Locks access, Berks County...view notice
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: Upon posting at site
 
6.28.07 Notice: Temporary fishing regulations at Egypt Meadow Lake...view notice
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: Upon posting at site
 
5.31.07 Notice: Add Middle Spring Creek, Cumberland County, to Class A trout waters list...view notice
Public Comment Period: June 9 through July 9, 2007
Effective Date: August 4, 2007...view approved notice
 
5.31.07 Notice: Changes to waters in Delayed Harvest and Big Bass regulations...view notice
Public Comment Period: June 9 through July 9, 2007
Effective Date: Pending
 
4.23.07

Notice: Addition to Class A trout waters list...view notice...view original notice

Public Comment Period: March 10 through April 10, 2007
Effective Date: May 5, 2007
 
4.23.07

Notice: Changes to wild trout streams list...view notice...view original notice

Public Comment Period: March 10 through April 10, 2007
Effective Date: May 5, 2007
 
3.14.07 Notice: Quaker Lake re-opened...view notice
Public Comment Period: None
Effective Date: March 5, 2007
 
3.6.07 Notice: Add North Park Lake, Allegheny County, to Big Bass Program...view notice
Public Comment Period: March 10 through April 10, 2007
Effective Date: Pending
 
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-- Prior Rulemaking and Notice Activity --

Featured topics
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