Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 4
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
CHANGES FOR THE BETTER
photo-PFBC archives
by Timothy D. Schaeffer
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
C
hange is rarely easy, but it can make things
better. Two changes highlighted in this edition of
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater illustrate how this
can happen.
In 2011, our Board of Commissioners listened to the
data and followed the advice of agency staff and the
Boating Advisory Board to require that life jackets be worn
on all boats less than 16 feet long and all canoes, kayaks
and paddleboards from November 1 to April 30. This
was in response to a disproportionate number of boating
fatalities happening during the cold weather months. If
you fall in the water at that time of year, there is a good
chance you may not come out alive.
Ten years later, boating fatalities during these months
have been nearly cut in half. At the same time, we are
experiencing longer boating
seasons and seeing more people
than ever using unpowered
watercrafts. This requirement is
making it safer to be on the water.
This change did not come
easy-there was a lot of
debate leading up to its formal
adoption-but it was worth
it. Indeed, that change is still
4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater
happening as we work diligently to educate people
about the rule and the need to follow it.
The new Notice of Stocking regulation generated
even more public interest than the cold weather life
jacket requirement and will also be worth it. Until
now, there was no system in place to ensure the
health of the fish being stocked into Pennsylvania
waters. In addition, our agency's talented and
dedicated fisheries management staff had no
idea what was being stocked into waters of the
Commonwealth other than the fish that came from
state fish hatcheries and cooperative nurseries.
With the Notice of Stocking requirement now in
place, we are in a better position than ever to more
comprehensively protect, conserve and enhance
aquatic resources.
A special word of thanks to those in the
commercial aquaculture industry, private fishing
clubs and cooperative nursery volunteers-all of
whom provided valuable feedback to collaboratively
get to where we are today. Thanks also goes to our
staff and Commissioners who took the time to listen
and come up with a final regulation that worked. In
this case, change was certainly not easy, but it showed
how partners can come together to achieve a goal.
We still have a long way to go to achieve full
compliance with wearing life jackets, and there will
undoubtedly be growing pains as anglers implement
the Notice of Stocking. Change will be for the better
in the form of lives saved and healthy fish.
fishandboat.com
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 31
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2024 - Cover4
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