Jackson County Commission Meeting Regular Session - Fishing Pressure on Guntersville Lake Causing Bass Fishery Problem, Suggestion to Decrease Creel Limit and Implement Conservation Measures, August 8, 2016

Dead Bass after fishing tournament, photo credit Gene Mueller Fishing dot blogspot. Fair Use Rights for non-profit news reporting and commentary

Dead Bass on shore line on Tennessee River after fishing tournament. photo courtesy of Wide Open Spaces Link: http://www.wideopenspaces.com/dead-bass-litter-kentucky-lake-bass-tournament-pics/

Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.

These scenes are being repeated up and down the Tennessee River. It is uncalled for and results in depletion of the fishery. This type of abuse would cease if tournament holders and individuals would face stiff fines for this type of destruction to the fishery. This is not indicative of fishery stewardship, conservation, nor preserving our river system's ecosystem.

There is severe pressure on the Tennessee River's eco-system due to pollution. Many areas along the Tennessee River have no fish consumption or limited fish consumption advisories due to dangerous chemical and heavy metals pollution. Links: https://www.adph.org/tox/assets/2015_Advisory_small.pdf  and http://whnt.com/2016/06/08/alabama-has-no-swim-fish-consumption-advisories-for-same-chemicals-that-caused-water-warning/ 

2016 link to fish consumption and article: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/06/alabama_fish_consumption_advis.html 

Sharon Thomas of the Lake Guntersville Conservation Group discusses Guntersville Lake Large Mouth Bass Fishing; creel limits decrease from 10 to 5, tournament fishing, over fishing pressures and failure to handle fish properly were discussed. Movement of a major tournament, Big Bass Splash, during spawning season has a detrimental result on the fishery

More info:  

http://www.al.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2016/07/conservation_group_to_meet_tod.html    WAAY article: http://www.waaytv.com/appnews/guntersville-couple-has-plan-to-combat-declining-fish-population-in/article_322bccb2-5aa4-11e6-8e15-bbcbca471988.html

AGENDA

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VIDEOS

Sharon Thomas Presentation on Guntersville Lake Bass Fishing


In other business related to pollution of our area's waters:

Statement by the Director of the Scottsboro Water Sewer and Gas Board  regarding the Alabama Attorney General's legal action listing the Scottsboro Water Sewer and Gas Board as Defendants, Case # CV900167.00 Filed Aug. 5, 2016 in the Jackson County Circuit Court for violation of the Water Pollution Control Act. “The State Attorney General's Office, along with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, has filed a complaint in civil court regarding certain violations of the Board's NPDES permit. These self-reported violations primarily occurred during heavy rainfall events that flooded our wastewater collection system. The Board will continue to work closely with ADEM, and our consulting engineers, to make improvements to our system and operate in full compliance of State and Federal regulations.”

Roy Light
Scottsboro WSG