Substitute House Bill No. 5333 seeks to enhance the regulation of striped bass fishing in Connecticut and improve wildlife conservation efforts. The bill introduces a catch-and-release policy for striped bass from December 1 to March 31, with escalating fines for violations: $150 for a first offense, $350 for a second, and $500 for subsequent offenses. It also expands the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to include broader wildlife conservation initiatives, such as addressing biodiversity and climate change impacts. A new working group will be established to identify funding and implementation strategies for conservation programs, replacing certain existing reporting requirements to streamline efforts.

Additionally, the bill allows individuals to petition the DEEP commissioner regarding fish passage at hydroelectric dams not regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The commissioner is tasked with assessing the adequacy of existing fish passages and can mandate improvements if necessary. The bill also outlines the process for determining the need for fishways at older dams and requires that permit applications include provisions for fishways if needed. The effective dates for various provisions range from immediate passage to October 1, 2026, and July 1, 2026, for specific sections. Overall, the bill aims to bolster wildlife conservation and improve fish passage infrastructure in Connecticut while ensuring compliance with federal wildlife action plan requirements.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 26-292d
File No. 585: 26-107h, 26-107i, 26-136