According to Lyon County Judge Executive Wade White, years ago boat registration fees went up across the state, and that fee increase was earmarked by the legislature for lake access maintenance, water enforcement, and Asian carp control.
The proposed budget includes cutting $11 million from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife's Motorboat Registration Fee Account over the course of two years.
White says that the cuts will also directly impact the subsidies that are used to encourage commercial fisherman to fish for the carp, and without it, White fears that commercial fisherman will no longer fish in western Kentucky. Along with the subsidies, the proposed cuts would also reportedly impact funding for the fish center, and the barrier below the dam.
"Those crews hired to do research on whether the barrier is working, and keeping it going, will no longer be possible." White continued, "That barrier is designed to keep the carp out of our lakes, while the subsidy keeps commercial fishermen out there pulling them from the lakes."
According to White, he has contacted the governor's office several times since February 21, and only received one reply stating that they had given fish and wildlife nearly $3 million to combat Asian carp.
Representatives Chris Freeland and Steven Rudy are reportedly working to keep the $5.5 million with Fish and Wildlife.
White encourages everyone to contact the Governor's office, state Representatives, and state Senators to ask that they support Rudy and Freeland's efforts to keep the money with Fish and Wildlife.
You can see the proposed budget at the link below, with the reference to fish and wildlife on page 125.
On the Net:
Proposed Budget
