§ 4655. Duties; regulatory and enforcement powers; licenses—Article IV
The duty of said Commission shall be to make inquiry and ascertain from time to time
such methods, practices, circumstances, and conditions as may be disclosed for bringing
about the restoration of Atlantic salmon in the Connecticut River and its tributaries.
To promote the restoration, preservation, and protection of Atlantic salmon in the
Connecticut River Basin, the Commission may draft and recommend to the governors of
the various signatory states legislation to accomplish this end. The Commission shall,
more than 60 days prior to any regular meeting of the Legislature of any signatory
state, present to the Governor of the state its recommendations relating to proposed
enactments to be made by the Legislature of the state in furthering the intents and
purposes of this Compact.
The Commission shall have the power to recommend to the states party hereto stocking
programs, management procedures, and research projects and when two or more states
party hereto shall jointly stock waters or undertake cooperative management or research
the Commission shall act as the coordinating agency. The Commission, using all available
means, shall encourage acquisition by the signatory states of river bank, river bed,
and access thereto.
The Commission shall consult with and advise the pertinent administrative agencies
in the signatory states with regard to other anadromous species and their potential
impact or the potential impact of sport fisheries and commercial fisheries for other
anadromous species on the restoration of Atlantic salmon to the Connecticut River
Basin.
In the interest of developing a sound program of Atlantic salmon management, the Commission
shall promulgate regulations governing Atlantic salmon fishing in the main stem of
the Connecticut River in all four signatory states as hereinafter provided. Such
regulations may: (1) establish the open and closed seasons for Atlantic salmon which
may vary by river section, (2) establish hours, days of period during the open season
when fishing for Atlantic salmon shall not be permitted in designated areas, (3) prescribe
the legal methods of taking Atlantic salmon including the type of gear such as gaffs,
landing nets or tailers which may be used to assist in landing such fish, (4) establish
the minimum legal length for Atlantic salmon, (5) establish the daily creel limit,
the season creel limit, and the possession limit for Atlantic salmon. The Commission
shall recommend, review, and issue comments on such regulations as may be promulgated
by the signatory states governing Atlantic salmon fishing in tributary streams. The
states of Connecticut and Massachusetts agree to make available for brood stock, from
fish taken in the fish passage facilities at the Rainbow Reservoir Dam and the Holyoke
Power Company Dam, such numbers of adult Atlantic salmon as the Commission deems necessary
to carry out the Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program.
The Commission shall have the power to issue a Connecticut River Basin Atlantic Salmon
License and the sale of such licenses shall be handled by the individual signatory
states or their authorized agents. The individual signatory states shall be accountable
to the Commission for all such licenses and the monies received therefrom. The initial
fee for such licenses shall be determined by majority vote of the Commission but shall
not exceed the maximum resident angling license fee of the signatory states except
that the Commission may upon a determination of need and with the unanimous approval
of its membership increase such license and issuing fee. The individual signatory
states or their issuing agent may retain a recording fee of up to fifty cents for
each license issued. Forms for such license shall be provided to the signatory states
by the Commission. Such license shall be a legal prerequisite for any person including
minors fishing for or possessing Atlantic salmon in the waters or on the shores of
the Connecticut River and all of its tributaries. In addition to said Connecticut
River Basin Atlantic Salmon License, all persons, except those specifically exempted
because of age, disability, or other limitations as determined by statute or regulations
of the individual signatory states shall be required to possess a valid resident or
nonresident sport fishing license issued by the state in which such person is fishing.
The Commission shall recognize that in certain waters or sections of waters a daily
rod permit may also be required, such daily rod permit to be issued by the state in
which such waters or sections of waters are located; however, the signatory states
shall not, by fee, distinguish between residents and nonresidents. The authority
to limit the number of persons fishing for Atlantic salmon in certain tributaries
or sections of certain tributaries shall remain the prerogative of the individual
signatory states.
The respective police agencies of the signatory states shall have the authority to
enforce all of the regulations and license requirements of the Commission any place
in the Connecticut River Basin.
The Commission shall have the authority to accept gifts, state grants, and federal
funds. The Commission shall have the authority to expend money from fees collected
for Connecticut River Basin Atlantic Salmon Licenses or from such other funds available
to the Commission to finance the cost of stocking, management, or research carried
on by signatory states to further the purposes of this Compact. Such funds shall
be in the form of direct grants to the agency of such state charged with the management
of the fisheries resources and may be up to 100 percent of the cost of projects approved
by a majority vote of the Commission. (Added 1979, No. 89 (Adj. Sess.).)