Testimony in Opposition
LD 425, An Act to Extend Fall Fishing Opportunities
Before the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Presented by David Trahan, Executive Director, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine
February 28, 2017
Senator Cyrway, Representative Duchesne, distinguished members of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, my name is David Trahan and I am representing the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine testifying in opposition to LD 425, An Act to Extend Fall Fishing Opportunities.
We appreciate the intent to extend fishing opportunities in the fall, but the change being proposed in LD 425 would allow fishermen to catch and release spawning fish. Catch and release fishing studies show a mortality rate that ranges between 5 and 25 percent depending on the type of tackle used; in addition, spawning fish congregates fish species in areas that can be predictable and easily accessed putting intense pressure on spawn filled fish. For those reasons, we oppose LD 425.