Copies of this letter and the emergency rule order are also hereby being transmitted to the Chief Clerk of the Senate and of the Assembly with the request that the order, or a notice of it, be published in the Journal of each house to make the rule amendments known to persons who will be affected by them.
The Department's fiscal estimate of the rule is also enclosed.
Sincerely,
Cate Zeuske
Secretary or Revenue
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State of Wisconsin
Legislative Audit Bureau
Madison
June 9, 1997
To the Honorable, the Legislature:
We have completed our evaluation of fish propagation and stocking activities carried out by the Department of Natural Resources, as directed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
Between 1986 and 1995, the Department reduced the number of fish stocked by 58.9 percent, and it plans further reductions for 1997. Concerns have been expressed that such declines may jeopardize high-quality fishing opportunities in the state, which could harm the tourism industry as well as reduce state revenues from license sales. Department officials, however, believe that new management strategies, improved habitat to encourage natural reproduction, and greater reliance on regulations to reduce angling pressure will help maintain high-quality fishing despite the reduction in total stocking. While total fishing license and stamp sales have declined 11.4 percent over the last ten years, the decline may be influenced by factors such as societal changes in leisure time activities, as well as by the perceived quality of fishing opportunities.
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Independent of trends in stocking, we have identified improvements the Department can make in its management of the fisheries program. First, to determine which stocking practices are cost-effective, the Department should compare the relative production costs of different sizes of fish at the time they are stocked to survival rates in the field. In addition, the Department should develop long-range stocking goals and policies, rather than make decisions annually, in order to use its facilities more efficiently. Recent production reductions have coincided with hatchery expansions and have resulted in excess capacity and reduced efficiency at the hatcheries.
We also noted that despite the Department's plans to improve its relationship with private hatcheries and to increase the role of the private sector in its stocking activities, relatively few efforts were made until 1996. We identified a number of strategies the Department could pursue to increase private hatchery involvement in stocking activities.
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation extended to us by Department of Natural Resources staff. The Department's response is Appendix II.
Respectfully submitted,
Dale Cattanach
State Auditor
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REFERENCE BUREAU CORRECTIONS
Assembly Bill 342
1. Page 27, line 8: after "(1)" insert "(intro.)".
Assembly Bill 369
1. Page 2, line 5: delete "942.0125" and substitute "947.0125".
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Representative Foti moved that the Assembly stand adjourned until 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, June 17.
The question was: Shall the Assembly stand adjourned?
Motion carried.
The Assembly stood adjourned.
11:01 A.M.
