Policy
Fisheries Orders up for Review at August NRC Meeting
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will gather input from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other stakeholders regarding fishing regulation changes this week. The NRC will meet virtually on Thursday to consider a relatively short agenda. The Michigan DNR will host the meeting, and a recording can be viewed using this link. NRC…
Read MoreGreat American Outdoors Act Becomes Law
The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) became law today when the president signed this historic conservation legislation. This landmark bill will protect public lands and expand recreational opportunities for decades to come. GAOA will permanently dedicate full funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and establish the National Parks and Public Land Legacy…
Read MoreJudge rules to extend decree, denies expanding tribal fishing zones
The 2000 Great Lakes Consent Decree between the state, the federal government and five sovereign Native American tribes has been extended per an order handed down by a federal judge last week. In early July, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians filed a motion in federal court in the Western District of Michigan…
Read MoreGreat American Outdoors Act Passes Congress!
The Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422/H.R.7092 & H.R.1957) passed out of the House of Representatives by a margin of 310-107 on Wednesday. We are now one important step closer to full, permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and addressing the deferred maintenance backlog on federal public lands. The LWCF has only…
Read MoreNew Deer Regulations Passed at July NRC Meeting
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) took action on deer regulations at their July meeting, just in time for rules to be printed in the Michigan Hunting Digest for the fall 2020 hunting seasons. The new rules include an extended firearm season in the southern Lower Peninsula and added flexibility for harvesting an antlerless deer. …
Read MoreAdaptive Cormorant Management up for Comment
Double-crested cormorant (cormorant) management is once again at the center of agency rule-making with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and MUCC is weighing in. Cormorants are a native species, but wreak havoc on fisheries populations across the Great Lakes region. To facilitate adaptive, localized management the USFWS submitted a proposed rule to the…
Read MoreCourt filing could end Great Lakes fishing as we know it
The 2000 Great Lakes Consent Decree is set to expire in August, and a court proceeding filed by one Upper Peninsula tribe could end sportfishing as we know it in much of the Great Lakes. Since 1985, a large portion of Michigan’s Great Lakes fishery has been divided up under an agreement between five of…
Read MoreDeer Regulations Up For Action At July NRC Meeting, Transparency May Be Lacking
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) must take action on 2020 deer regulations at their July meeting if these changes are to be implemented in time for the fall hunting seasons. The NRC will meet virtually on Thursday, July 16 to consider a relatively short agenda. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host…
Read MoreProposed Regulations Reveal NRC Transparency Issues
A slough of amendments were proposed to deer regulations at the June Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting and could pass without a thorough vetting. With three new commissioners joining the NRC in July and regulations impacting 600,000 Michigan hunters on the table, we deserve greater transparency. As of right now, amendments could be made to…
Read MoreNational Wildlife Federation Affiliates Vote to Address PFAS Concerns
Recently, delegates to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Annual Meeting voted to work to address the impacts of PFAS chemicals on fish, wildlife and human health. PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are used in products ranging from firefighting foam and household cleaning products, to consumer goods like non-stick cookware, apparel waterproofing and…
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