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Texas Parks and Wildlife Increases License, Boat Registration Fees

Austin, Texas -(FishNLand.com)- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved increases to hunting and fishing licenses, as well as boat titling and registration fees. Most fees will increase by five percent and the increases take effect with the 2009-2010 license year, starting this fall for recreational hunting and fishing licenses.

Hunting licenses will increase from $23 to $25, while the popular Super Combo all-inclusive license increases from $64 to $68.

Non-resident hunting licenses increase by $15 from $300 to $315, which also reflects a five percent hike.

Fishing packages will also increase by $2. The resident freshwater fishing package increases from $28 to $30 and the saltwater fishing package increases from $33 to $35.

The biggest increase in license fees approved by the commission affects lifetime licenses. The resident lifetime fishing and hunting licenses will increase to $1,000 and the lifetime combination license increases to $1,800.

“We have not increased the cost of a lifetime license for 12 years,” said Gene McCarty, TPWD deputy director of administration. “Frankly, these licenses have been undervalued and could represent significant lost revenue over time if not adjusted.”

Boat owners in Texas will also see increases in boat registration and titling fees. Boat registration, which are valid for two years, for vessels less than 16 feet in length increase from $30 to $32 and those in the 16-26 foot range go from $50 to $53. Boats 26-40 feet increase from $70 to $110 and boats greater than 40 feet increase from $90 to $150.

Other miscellaneous increases are primarily in the category of commercial licenses, including commercial shrimp boat captain’s license ($20 increase), resident commercial oyster boat ($21 increase), wholesale fish dealers truck ($28 increase), resident commercial crab fishermen’s license ($30 increase), non-resident commercial oyster boat ($84 increase) and non-resident commercial crab fisherman’s license ($120 increase).

The department received less than 400 comments related to the fee increases during the public comment period, the majority of which came from the TPWD online survey and by email, with only 16 comments resulting from a series of 19 public meetings scheduled around the state. Overall, comments ran more than 2-to-1 against the increases, citing bad economic times as the primary reason.

“Initially we considered a 10-15 percent increase but in this economy we know that is unrealistic and counterproductive,” said McCarty. “But, it’s important to mention that this will just keep us even.”

McCarty noted the fees for none of the special endorsement stamps were increased.

In addition to the fee increases, the commission approved a new administrative fee of $100 for reinstatement of any recreational or commercial license that has been revoked or suspended.

The commission also authorized staff to implement a drawing for a package that includes a lifetime hunting and fishing license and one-year subscription to Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine. Entry fee for the drawing will be $5 and will go on sale Aug. 15 wherever licenses are sold.

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Potentially Toxic Algal Species Confirmed in South Texas

Austin, Texas -(FishNLand.com)- Since January 2009, a microscopic alga most often found in north and west Texas has been confirmed at four south Texas sites: Corpus Christi, Kingsville, McAllen, and Jim Hogg County. All four occurrences caused fish kills in private ponds and investigations by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Kills and Spills Team have found no evidence that public waters were affected.
The organism, Prymnesium parvum or golden alga, is a naturally-occurring species that was first confirmed in Texas’ Pecos River in 1985, marking the first record in the Western Hemisphere. Since then, golden alga has been found to occur in inland waters of an additional 15 states. Prior to 1985, this species was mostly known from brackish European waters.

Sometimes the algae reproduce very rapidly, resulting in what is referred to as a bloom. Golden alga blooms can give the water a yellow or copper color and cause foaming along shorelines. Under certain environmental conditions, golden alga produces toxins that affect gill-breathing organisms such as fish, clams and mussels. There is no evidence that these toxins harm other wildlife, livestock or humans.

Fish can escape a toxic bloom by retreating into an area that receives fresh, flowing water, such as a cove or inlet. Since 2001 golden alga has caused seasonal fish kills in the upper reaches of the Canadian, Red, Brazos, Colorado, and Rio Grande river basins. The lower Brazos River experienced two fish kills in 2006; before this event most fish kills had largely taken place west of Interstate Highway 35.

It remains unknown why golden alga blooms have been restricted to freshwater in the U.S., while they are a coastal concern in places such as Europe, the Mediterranean, and New Zealand. Due to its wide salinity tolerance, there is concern that golden alga might one day threaten Texas’ bays and estuaries and cause fish kills similar to those caused by red tides.

TPWD is coordinating efforts to monitor fish kills caused by toxic golden alga, to research golden alga for better understanding and management, and to manage the recreational fisheries of Texas with river authorities, state agencies and university researchers. Studies have resulted in control methods for golden alga in ponds and small reservoirs; however these methods are not economically or ecologically feasible for application to larger water bodies.

Golden alga does not thrive in waters with salinity below approximately 1.5 parts per thousand. Pond owners might reduce the chances of a bloom, and any resulting threat to surrounding water bodies, by avoiding the filling or topping of ponds with salty ground or surface water.

TPWD has neither the authority nor the resources to treat private ponds. More information about golden alga, including treatment options for private waters, can be found on the TPWD Web site.

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Texas State-Fish Art Contest Announces Winners

ATHENS, Texas -(FishNLand.com)- The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center has announced the winners in the 2009 State-Fish Art Contest.
The 624 entries received was the largest number ever entered from a single state in this national contest, which is sponsored by Wildlife Forever of Brooklyn Center, MN.
Winners in the 4-6 grade level division were: First place, Christian Hernandezzegada, Killeen; second place, Samuel Bickham, Shiner; third place, Julie Ybarra, Brownsville.
Winners in the 7-9 grade level division were: First place, Brady King, Livingston; second place, Katya Lopatko, Grapevine; third place, Mary Campbell, Fort Worth.
In grade levels 10-12, winners were: First place, Margaret Sone, Dallas; second place, Hailey Sowden, Dallas; third place, Bethany Berg, Dallas.
Honorable mentions were awarded to: Ryan Lockhart, The Woodlands; Adrian Ramirez, Brownsville; Janelle Campos, Brownsville; Michael Florez, Brownsville; Jackie Morey, Magnolia; Susanna Hoffpauer, Valley View; Makenzie Williams, Wills Point.
Also, Alina Hail, McKinney; Isabella Orozco, McKinney; Sam Baxter, McKinney; Elise Broadway, Dallas; Amber Wang, Katy; Bonnie Leung, Austin.
Honorable mentions also went to: Kinsey Simmons, The Woodlands; David Rutledge, Stephenville; Caroline Traeger, Dallas; Jinda Cason, Dallas; Xinyi Chen, Dallas; Maryam Ogunkoya, Houston; Rachel Kalich, Shiner.
Prizes were awarded to first through third places in each grade level. In grades 4-6, savings bonds were awarded in the following amounts: first place $100, second place $75, third place $50.
In grades 7-9, first place received $100 cash, second place $75, third place $50.
First place in grades 10-12 paid $1,000 cash, second place $750, third place $500.
The three first place winners also receive financial assistance to attend the national competition in Brooklyn Center, MN, in August.
Every entrant received a certificate and a free fishing lure from Strike King Lure Company.
The Texas division of the State-Fish Art Contest is sponsored by the Toyota Texas Bass Classic.
Annual deadline for entering the contest is March 31. For more information visit http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/education/fish_art/.

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