Presenters: Matt Wagner

Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Action
Commercial Nongame Regulations
August 21, 2008

I. Executive Summary: This item presents proposed changes to regulations governing the collection and sale of nongame species. The proposed rules:

II. Discussion: Under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 67, the department is required to develop and administer management programs to ensure the continued ability of nongame species of fish and wildlife to perpetuate themselves successfully, and to conduct ongoing investigations of nongame fish and wildlife to develop information on populations, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors, and any other biological or ecological data to determine appropriate management and regulatory information.

At the March 2008 meeting of the Regulations Committee, staff received permission to publish proposed regulations in the Texas Register for public comment. The proposed rules (located at Exhibit A) appeared in the July 11, 2008, issue of the Texas Register (33 TexReg 5499). Staff has gathered and analyzed public comment on the proposed rules and will provide a summary at the time of the meeting.

III. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts amendments to 31 TAC §§65.325, 65.327, and 65.331, concerning Commercial Nongame Permits, with changes as necessary to the proposed text (located at Exhibit A) as published in the July 11, 2008, issue of the Texas Register (33 TexReg 5499)."

Attachments - 1

  1. Exhibit A - Proposed Regulations