Take Action to Protect Sportfishing

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Michigan is facing an unprecedented challenge that threatens the very existence of our sportfishing heritage.  After decades of working to promote conservation, funding fisheries restoration projects, and supporting fish planting efforts across the state, Michigan's fishing public is now facing the assault of a commercial industry that wants to expand netting operations to include important gamefish species such as walleye, trout, perch, smallmouth bass and more.

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In April 2026,  Representative Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) introduced House Bills 5801 and 5802.  These bills are designed to not only expand commercial netting to new species such as walleye, but will also allow new netting tactics such a gill netting, which is not allowed under current regulation.

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The bill is co-sponsored by a bipartisan coalition of representatives that are anti-sportsperson.  This list includes: 

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• Jason Morgan (District 23), David Prestin (District 108)

• Gregory Alexander (District 98)

• Cameron Cavitt (District 106)

• John Roth (District 104)

• Karl Bohnak (District 109)

• Parker Fairbairn (District 107)

• Ken Borton (District 105)

• Pat Outman (District 91)

• Gregory Markkanen (District 110)

• Jason Woolford (District 50)

• Angela Rigas (District 79)

• Jerry Neyer (District 92)

• Brian BeGole (District 71)

• Kathy Schmaltz (District 46)

• Matt Bierlein (District 97)

• Douglas Wozniak (District 59)

• Luke Meerman (District 89)

• Tom Kunse (District 100)

• Gina Johnsen (District 78)

• Matt Maddock (District 51)

• Nancy DeBoer (District 86)

• Matt Longjohn (District 40)

• Alicia St. Germaine (District 62)

• Jaime Greene (District 65)

• Jay DeBoyer (District 63)

• Bradley Slagh (District 85)

• Bryan Posthumus (District 90)

• William Bruck (District 30)

• Mike McFall (District 14)

• Reggie Miller (District 31)

• Stephen Wooden (District 81)

• Julie Rogers (District 41)

• Erin Byrnes (District 15)

• Peter Herzberg (District 25)

• Carol Glanville (District 84)

• Penelope Tsernoglou (District 75)

• Sharon MacDonell (District 56)

• Jimmie Wilson (District 32)

• Jennifer Conlin (District 48)

• Jasper Martus (District 69)

• Julie Brixie (District 73)

• Brenda Carter (District 53)

• Veronica Paiz (District 10)

• Noah Arbit (District 20)

• Tonya Phillips (District 7)

• Dylan Wegela (District 26)

• Morgan Foreman (District 33)

• Kara Hope (District 74)

• Kelly Breen (District 21)

• Natalie Price (District 6)

• Samantha Steckloff (District 19)

• Donavan McKinney (District 11)

• Matt Koleszar (District 22)

• Tim Kelly (District 93)

• Ron Robinson (District 58)

• Jennifer Wortz (District 35)

• Nancy Jenkins-Arno (District 34)

• David Martin (District 68)

 

Michigan’s commercial fishing regulations have not been updated since the 1960s, and most of the state statute language dates to 1929. Commercial license fees have not been modified since 1968 and are inadequate to fund the program’s administration and enforcement. Today, recreational anglers bear the burden of subsidizing the commercial industry… funds that could otherwise be used for habitat improvement, fish stocking, fisheries education programs, and more.

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What can you do?  Contact your representative now, and tell them that you support Michigan's sportfishing heritage and they should not support House Bill 5108. 

 

Find your House Representative by clicking here!

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