Regulation change for Kentucky commercial fishing license

Regulation change for Kentucky commercial fishing license

September 15, 2008 Contact: Gerry Buynak
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-800-858-1549, ext. 4443

Frankfort, Ky. – Commercial anglers who fish for roe-bearing species such as paddlefish and shovelnose sturgeon must now purchase a Roe-Bearing Fish Harvester’s Permit before the roe-bearing commercial fishing season opens this fall.
“This new permit system is in conjunction with a set of new regulations to better manage the paddlefish commercial fishery,” said Benjy Kinman, director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has worked closely with the commercial fishing industry on strategies to sustain the harvest of the species and simultaneously maintain the livelihood of the commercial anglers. Most importantly, a minimum size limit and harvest season have been established.”
The permit must be purchased in addition to the Kentucky commercial fishing license. “You must possess a Roe-Bearing Fish Harvester’s Permit to harvest, transport or sell roe-bearing fish or their roe,” said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Without this permit, commercial anglers must release all shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish they catch.”
The permit costs $500 for eligible resident commercial anglers and $1,500 for eligible non-residents. “These permits will only be sold to eligible commercial anglers between October 6 and November 5, 2008,” Buynak said. “They may be purchased in person at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in Frankfort or mailed in to us. They must be postmarked by November 5.”
The new permit went into effect Sept. 12. The commercial fishing season for shovelnose sturgeon opens Oct. 15, 2008, and closes May 15, 2009. The commercial fishing season for paddlefish opens Nov. 1, 2008, and closes April 30, 2009.
With the exception of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, paddlefish may be harvested by trotlines in all waters open to commercial fishing from Nov. 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009.