Bill Text: IL HJR0141 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to develop protections as needed for all Illinois native gar species to ensure the long term viability of the shortnose gar, the longnose gar, the spotted gar, and the alligator gar, with particular protections developed for alligator gar. Urges the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to apply these protections as needed and include site specific size and creel limits based on the size of the reproductively mature gar to protect brood stock from premature harvest. Urges the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to work with partners to identify ways to expand and expedite the reintroduction of alligator gar to waterways to expedite the creation of a sustainable and regulated trophy fishing resource in the State.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)
Status: (Passed) 2016-05-31 - Adopted Both Houses [HJR0141 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2015-HJR0141-Introduced.html
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| 1 | HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Since prehistoric times, Illinois waterways have | ||||||
| 3 | been home to four species of gar that swam alongside dinosaurs, | ||||||
| 4 | mastodons, and pioneers; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, Alligator gar reaching more than six feet in | ||||||
| 6 | length and 300 pounds in weight once patrolled Illinois | ||||||
| 7 | waterways; and
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| 8 | WHEREAS, For a century, gar have been misnamed as | ||||||
| 9 | nuisances, threats to sportfish, "trash fish", or worse; and
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| 10 | WHEREAS, The largest of these species, the alligator gar, | ||||||
| 11 | was once extirpated from our State, but has been reintroduced | ||||||
| 12 | on a limited basis through the hard work, expertise, and | ||||||
| 13 | commitment of our Department of Natural Resources; and
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| 14 | WHEREAS, Our great institutions of higher education, | ||||||
| 15 | consisting of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and | ||||||
| 16 | Springfield campuses, Western Illinois University, and Eastern | ||||||
| 17 | Illinois University, are engaged in research showing the | ||||||
| 18 | intrinsic value of gar species to Illinois waterways, sport | ||||||
| 19 | fisheries, and recreational opportunities; and
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| 20 | WHEREAS, Anglers, whether they use hook-and-line or bows | ||||||
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| 1 | and arrows to pursue their quarry, are discovering the thrill | ||||||
| 2 | of gar fishing; and
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| 3 | WHEREAS, Food lovers across the State are beginning to | ||||||
| 4 | discover the culinary delight that is the flesh of gar; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, The increasing popularity of gar presents new | ||||||
| 6 | opportunities for gar management to ensure the long-term | ||||||
| 7 | viability of the fishery; and
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| 8 | WHEREAS, Fully grown alligator gar is our only native | ||||||
| 9 | species capable of eating adult Asian carp; and
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| 10 | WHEREAS, Many Illinoisans and tourists look forward to the | ||||||
| 11 | day when giant alligator gar will again swim our waterways, | ||||||
| 12 | presenting a unique trophy fishing opportunity; and
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| 13 | WHEREAS, Gar have for too long been falsely accused of | ||||||
| 14 | hurting game species, when studies clearly show healthy gar | ||||||
| 15 | populations lead to healthier game species populations; and
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| 16 | WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has | ||||||
| 17 | taken a two-year hiatus from their efforts to restore the | ||||||
| 18 | alligator gar population; therefore, be it
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| 19 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
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| 1 | NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE | ||||||
| 2 | SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Illinois Department | ||||||
| 3 | of Natural Resources to develop protections as needed for all | ||||||
| 4 | Illinois native gar species to ensure the long term viability | ||||||
| 5 | of the shortnose gar (Lepisosteus platostomus), the longnose | ||||||
| 6 | gar (Lepisosteus osseus), the spotted gar (Lepisosteus | ||||||
| 7 | oculatus), and the alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula), with | ||||||
| 8 | particular protections developed for alligator gar; and be it | ||||||
| 9 | further
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| 10 | RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Natural | ||||||
| 11 | Resources to apply these protections as needed and include site | ||||||
| 12 | specific size and creel limits based on the size of the | ||||||
| 13 | reproductively mature gar to protect brood stock from premature | ||||||
| 14 | harvest; and be it further
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| 15 | RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Natural | ||||||
| 16 | Resources to work with partners to identify ways to expand and | ||||||
| 17 | expedite the reintroduction of alligator gar to waterways to | ||||||
| 18 | expedite the creation of a sustainable and regulated trophy | ||||||
| 19 | fishing resource in the State; and be it further
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| 20 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 21 | delivered to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
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