(a) Application of section.--The provisions of this section shall apply only to those boundary lakes of this Commonwealth and their bays and peninsular waters as the commission may determine.
(b) Issuance and fees.--Except as provided under subsection (b.1), the commission may issue a commercial fishing license to a person who has signed and submitted his application and paid a fee as follows:
(1) Trap nets: residents, $80; nonresidents, $160.
(2) Seines: residents, $50; nonresidents, $100.
(b.1) Change of fees.--The fees listed under subsection (b) may be changed by the commission in accordance with section 322.1 (relating to power to set fees).
(c) Carrying and display.--The licenses shall be carried by the operator of any boat, net or device so licensed and by each person employed on the boat and shall be shown on demand to any waterways conservation officer or other authorized representative of the commission.
(d) Condition of license.--No license shall be issued under this section except upon the condition that the operator of any boat so licensed shall permit a person, designated by the executive director, to accompany the boat at any time when it is engaged in fishing, for the purpose of securing for the use of the commission from the fish caught as much of their spawn as the commission may determine. A person who refuses to permit a person so designated by the executive director to accompany the boat to secure such spawn as he may deem necessary commits a summary offense of the first degree.
(e) Rules and regulations.--The commission may promulgate rules and regulations applicable to boundary lakes as may be appropriate for the protection and management of the fisheries in the lakes, the ways, methods and means of fishing and the health and safety of persons and property. The regulations may prohibit fishing for all or some species of fish in boundary lakes and may limit the number or types of licenses and permits issued for fishing in the lakes.
(f) Limitation on nonresident licenses.--No nonresident boat or net license may be issued under this section to any resident of a state or country the laws or regulations of which prohibit, or have the effect of prohibiting, the issuance of a like license to a resident of this Commonwealth.
(g) Certain nets prohibited.--The use of pound nets or gill nets for fishing on boundary lakes is prohibited.
(h) Gill nets.--(Deleted by amendment).
(Oct. 5, 1994, P.L.534, No.79, eff. imd.; Nov. 1, 2012, P.L.1716, No.211, eff. 60 days; July 10, 2020, P.L.604, No.56, eff. imd.)
2020 Amendment. Act 56 amended subsec. (b), added subsec. (b.1) and deleted subsec. (h).
2012 Amendment. Act 211 amended subsecs. (b), (c) and (h).
1994 Amendment. Act 79 amended subsecs. (b) and (g) and added subsec. (h). See the preamble to Act 79 of 1994 in the appendix to this title.
Cross References. Section 2903 is referred to in sections 322.1, 2908 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 29 - Special Licenses and Permits
Section 2901 - Eel chute licenses (Deleted by amendment)
Section 2903 - Boat and net licenses for boundary lakes
Section 2904 - Permits for protection and management of particular fish
Section 2905 - Permits for scientific and educational fish collecting activities
Section 2906 - Permits for use of explosives
Section 2907 - Expiration of licenses and permits
Section 2907.1 - Tagged fish contests on boundary lakes
Section 2907.2 - Lake Erie fishing permits