Outdoors

‘Notice of Stocking’ regulation implemented by Fish and Boat Commission this year

A new regulation has gone into effect this year anglers may not be fully aware of and that's the Notice of Stocking.

As of Jan.1,2024, "any person or group engaged in stocking fish into Commonwealth waters is required to notify the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission by way of Notice of Stocking," according to the Fish and Boat Commission.

Those who partake in Notice of Stocking must submit a form online at the Fish and Boat Commission website, or send a fillable form into the commission. It must list the applicant's name and address, associated PFBC cooperative nursery (if applicable), the waterbody name and location (latitude/longitude preferred), size of stocking area, stocking date range and number of stocking events, in addition to the fish species, size, approximate number or pounds of fish, producer, hatchery or dealer providing the fish name and state.

Invasive species is a huge reason for this new regulation going into effect within the Commonwealth. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, almost 60 invasive aquatic animals are identified as of greatest concern for Pennsylvania. That includes zebra mussels, quagga mussels and the northern snakehead.

The northern snakehead can sometimes be confused with the bowfin or burbot, which are native Pennsylvania species. The Fish and Boat Commission notes that a way of identifying bowfin from snakeheads is to view the tops of their heads.

"Bowfin have no scales on their head; snakeheads have scales on their head with a scale pattern that is more interlocked or mosaic-like in its pattern -- similar to a snake," the PFBC states on its website.

In simple terms, one needs to submit a NOS to the Fish and Boat Commission if they plan to stock fish they caught in one waterbody into another. That applies as well to fishing tournaments or derbies.

"Waters of this Commonwealth," as defined by the PFBC, do not include waters contained within a property or premise of a propagation facility licensed under the Pennsylvania Aquaculture Development Law.

It should be noted that unlike a permit, there is no cost to submit a NOS.

According to the PFBC, the benefits to submitting a NOS form are that "the NOS form helps the PFBC track the number, species and location of fish being introduced into waters of the Commonwealth. The information will assist the PFBC in assessing the quantifying fishing opportunities created outside of the PFBC as well as monitor threats to the Commonwealth's aquatic resources."