2012 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Title 30 - FISH
Chapter 73 - Shad Fishing in Delaware River and Bay
Section 7312 - Withdrawal of licenses issued in prior year

     § 7312.  Withdrawal of licenses issued in prior year.
        (a)  General rule.--When the United States Fish and Wildlife
     Service or its successor certifies, on the basis of scientific
     evidence, that the catch of shad in the Delaware River and Bay
     and their tributaries has declined 100,000 fish or more under
     the previous year's catch in such waters and that there is
     evidence of prospective depletion, or when the commission, after
     investigation and on the basis of scientific evidence, finds
     that the fishery is threatened by depletion or that the fishing
     rate is too high to permit the continuance of a constant annual
     yield or that present exploitation threatens the future maximum
     yield of that fishery, it shall provide for the withdrawal in
     the following season of some or all of the licenses previously
     issued. In this connection, it may enter into administrative
     agreements with the pertinent administrative officials of the
     other states mentioned in section 7308 (relating to issuance of
     additional licenses) for the purpose of arranging a joint
     reduction of units of gear.
        (b)  Notice of intention.--When units of gear are to be
     reduced, the commission shall give public notice, in the manner
     set forth in section 7308, of intention to do so and of the
     number and character of units of gear to be withdrawn and from
     which areas.
        (c)  Method of withdrawal.--In effecting a reduction of
     fishing effort under the provisions of this section the
     commission shall withdraw shad licenses to be affected in the
     inverse order in which the shad licenses were issued except that
     if reduction of fishing intensity is sought with respect to a
     particular area or a particular operation license, withdrawals
     shall be in the inverse order in which the licenses were issued
     for that area or operation. In all instances where this
     procedure cannot be followed, resort shall be had to lots.