TPWD: News Releases: Plain Text

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| TPWD News Releases Dated 2009-06-03 |
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[ Note: This item is more than four months old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ Media Contact: Aaron Reed, 512-389-8046, aaron.reed@tpwd.state.tx.us ] [AR]
June 3, 2009
Shark ID and Regulation Workshops Slated for Coastal Cities
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department coastal fisheries biologists will host five workshops in late June and early July to help anglers navigate new shark regulations that go into effect Sept. 1, 2009.
The new regulations increase the minimum total length for most shark species from 24 inches total length to 64 inches total length, except for Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip and bonnethead sharks, which will remain at 24 inches total length.
For the allowable shark species, the bag limit will remain one shark per person per day, with a two shark possession limit. In addition, a prohibited list (zero bag limit) will be established for the following 21 species: Atlantic angel, Basking, Bigeye sand tiger, Bigeye sixgill, Bigeye thresher, Bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Longfin mako, Narrowtooth, Night, Sandbar, Sand tiger, Sevengill, Silky, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale, and White.
The workshops will focus on shark identification and changes in the regulations.� Similar shark species and distinguishing characteristics will be presented to allow anglers to identify the prohibited species, and differentiate between the 24-inch and 64-inch minimum size species.
The workshops will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the following locations:
--Tuesday, June 23� Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Harte Research Institute Conference Room # 127, 6300 Ocean Drive
--Wednesday, June 24� Port Isabel, Port Isabel Community Center, 213 N. Yturria Street
--Tuesday, June 30� Port Arthur, Port Arthur Public Library, 4615 9th Avenue
--Wednesday, July 1� Dickinson, TPWD Dickinson Marine Lab, 1502 FM 517E
--Thursday, July 2� Port Lavaca, Calhoun County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 186 County Road 101
For more information contact your TPWD regional outreach specialist: Upper Coast: Tonya Wiley, 281-534-0131, Tonya.wiley@tpwd.state.tx.us; Lower Coast: Art Morris, 361-825-3356, Art.morris@tpwd.state.tx.us
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[ Note: This item is more than four months old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ Editors: Images associated with this news release are available on the TPWD Web site (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/news_images/). ]
[ Media Contact: Aaron Reed, 512-389-8046, aaron.reed@tpwd.state.tx.us ] [AR]
June 3, 2009
Tyler Game Warden Named Boating Officer of the Year
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Game Warden Chris Green of Tyler was recognized May 28 as the Southern States Boating Law Administrators' Association Officer of the Year. The SSBLA is comprised of 17 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The prestigious award is one of three given by regional boating law administrators' associations, and Green goes on to compete for the National Boating Officer of the Year, which will be announced at the National Association of Boating Law Administrators annual conference in Corpus Christi Sept. 26-30.
Green, a Duncanville native, began his Texas Parks and Wildlife Department career as a Game Warden cadet in 1993, and is currently stationed in Smith County. His patrol area includes Lakes Tyler and Palestine and the Neches and Sabine Rivers.
Green was recognized by the SSBLA specifically for a search and rescue operation on Lake Palestine, in which he successfully located and brought to shore two fishermen whose boat capsized during a severe storm. His nomination also cited Green's investigation into a June 2008 boating fatality on Lake Cherokee which led to the indictment of a vessel operator for Criminally Negligent Homicide.
Each summer Green also organizes boat rides on Lake Tyler for adults with mental and physical disabilities and frequently serves as a TPWD Law Enforcement Division spokesman for his area regarding boating safety.
"Chris represents the agency very well in his water safety enforcement: working to keep the boating public safe through patrols, getting the message to boaters using various media outlets, and in accident reconstruction & presentation to grand juries, when felony charges are warranted," said Texas Game Warden Capt. Larry Hand, supervisor of the Tyler district. "He is a pleasure to work with and I couldn't be happier that he has been recognized in this way."
Green received the award from Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Peter Holt and TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith at the TPW Commission's May 28 public hearing in Austin.
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