29.737(2)(2) The department shall hold a public hearing on the permit application in the vicinity of the lake, and if the department determines that the hearing is favorable the department may issue a permit authorizing the applicant to remove, destroy or introduce fish in the lake.

29.737(3)(3) The department shall impose appropriate terms, conditions and limitations on the permit. All work done under the permit shall be under the supervision of employees or agents of the department, who shall have free access to the lake at all times for that purpose. The permittee shall pay the expenses of the supervision.

29.737(4)(4) All fish removed from the lake under a permit shall be disposed of as directed by the department.

29.737(5)(5) A person who is using a navigable lake that is a freeze-out pond as a fish farm, or as part of a fish farm, is exempt from obtaining a permit under this section.

29.737 HistoryHistory: 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 248 ss. 576 to 578; Stats. 1997 s. 29.737.

29.738(1)(1) A single person may register with the department a natural, navigable, self-contained body of water as a private fishing preserve if all of the following apply:

29.738(1)(a)(a) All of the use and occupancy rights in the land that is riparian to the body of water are owned or leased by the registrant.

29.738(1)(b)(b) The registrant and any owner of the riparian land do not provide access to the body of water to the public by means of an easement or other right-of-way or by means of a business open to the public.

29.738(1)(c)(c) The registrant held a private fish hatchery license under s. 29.52, 1995 stats., on December 31, 1997, that applied to the body of water being registered as a private fishing preserve.

29.738(2)(2) No lake association, corporation or other association that is formed to establish a private fishing preserve is eligible to register under this section.

29.738(3)(3) A registration under this section is valid for one year.

29.738(4)(4) A person who is fishing in a private fishing preserve is exempt from having any sport fishing approval issued under this chapter. No person may sell or trade fish that are caught in a private fishing preserve. No person may charge a fee for fishing in a private fishing preserve or a fee for an activity that includes the privilege of fishing in a private fishing preserve.

29.738 HistoryHistory: 1997 a. 27, 237; 1997 a. 248 s. 579; Stats. 1997 s. 29.738.

29.739(1)(1) The department shall establish a grant program to award grants on a competitive basis to cities, villages, towns, and counties; to federally recognized Indian tribes or bands located in this state; and to fish farms.

29.739(2)(2) Grants awarded under this section shall be used for the purpose of increasing the grantee’s capacity to raise walleye for stocking in the waters of the state. The grants may be used to build, improve, or repair any of the following:

29.739(2)(a)(a) Buildings and structures used as fish hatcheries or for fish rearing.

29.739(2)(f)(f) Equipment used for the distribution of fish or for the collection of fish spawn.

29.739(3)(3) For a fish farm to be eligible for a grant under this section, the fish farm shall meet all of the following requirements:

29.739(3)(a)(a) The fish farm is registered with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 95.60.

29.739(3)(b)(b) The fish farm is in compliance with all applicable state and federal environmental laws and all applicable state and federal laws related to fish health.

29.739(4)(4) A contract awarding a grant under this section shall state the number of fingerlings that will be reared as a result of the increased capacity and the purchase price the grantee shall charge for the fingerlings when the construction, improvement, or repair is completed.

29.739(5)(5) The department shall promulgate rules to implement the program to be established under this section.