The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is an independent state agency responsible for the regulation of all fishing and boating in the state of Pennsylvania within the United States of America. Unlike many U.S. states, Pennsylvania has a separate Game Commission.Its mission is: to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth's aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities.Created by law signed on March 23, 1866 by Governor Andrew Curtin, its original main purpose was to restore fish migrations of American shad within the rivers. Today, its scope manages boat launches, waterways, fish hatcheries, and other properties used for recreational fishing and boating. It also regulates the accessibility through dams on major waterways via fish ladders. Ten members make up the Board of Commissioners who oversee all operations, serving 8-year terms without pay. Among others, the Commission employs waterway conservation officers and biologists, while also utilizing volunteer deputy conservation officers and volunteer instructors to serve the public. The conservation officers are assigned to various districts across the Commonwealth, where—in addition to fish and boat law enforcement—they conduct boating and fishing schools, fish stocking, public relations work, and investigate water pollution violations.The Commission's first fishing license was issued in 1922, and they have been continually issued annually since; in 2007, they were converted to the Point of Sale computerized system. These licenses are valid on December 1 of the preceding year until December 31 of the license year. They also issue boat registrations, which are for a two-year period, expiring on March 31 of the year of expiration. Because the agency is a Commission, funds from purchasing licenses directly benefits the protection and conservation of aquatic resources; it is not supported by general fund state-tax money. However, the Commission does receive a portion of federal excise taxes through sporting goods and marine fuel taxation.
ABSTRACT Individual growth rates of fish are influenced by gradually changing environmental conditions and rapid‐onset events. However, there is a paucity of information on drivers of spatiotemporal variability in growth rates of fishes across large spatial extents. Using a 36‐year dataset of smallmouth bass ( Micropterus dolomieu ) length‐at‐age data across 10 river reaches in Pennsylvania, USA ( n = 54,068 individuals), we estimated annual early life growth rates (mm year −1 ) and assessed the effects of relative abundance, summer temperature, summer streamflow rate and a disease outbreak on growth rate. We found that temperature had a positive effect on growth rate, varied spatially, and had a stronger effect in diseased reaches. There was also evidence for an impact of disease on early life growth through density‐dependent mechanisms, with growth rates increasing from ∼85 to 101 mm·year −1 following disease‐related decreases in abundance. This study adds to our understanding of the factors that shape early life growth, including rapid‐onset events like disease which can have immediate and lasting effects on growth rate trajectory.
The crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci (Oomycota: Saprolegniales) is native to North America but expanded with its crayfish hosts to other regions. In most of its invaded range, A. astaci haplotypes are associated with specific American crayfish, probably due to introduction bottlenecks, but haplotype diversity is higher and clear host-specific associations are lacking in its native range. However, little is known about the infection rate and load of this pathogen in North America. We investigated the distribution, prevalence and genetic variation of A. astaci in Pennsylvania (eastern USA), where multiple native and introduced crayfish species (family Cambaridae) occur. We used A. astaci-specific quantitative PCR to screen 533 individuals representing 8 crayfish species (2 Cambarus and 6 Faxonius) from 49 sites. Faxonius limosus, an American species first introduced to Europe and carrier of A. astaci genotype group E, was of particular interest. We confirmed A. astaci infections in 76% of sites in all but 1 host taxon, with the pathogen infection rate and load comparable to established populations of North American crayfish studied in Europe and Japan. Despite the absence of highly infected hosts, we genotyped A. astaci from 14 sites. We only detected 2 mitochondrial haplotypes, but nuclear markers indicated the presence of at least 4 distinct pathogen genotypes, none documented from invaded areas in Europe or Asia. Genotype group E was not detected in F. limosus, possibly due to limited spatial distribution of the original strain. Our results highlight both benefits and limitations of combining multiple pathogen genotyping methods.
This study aims to examine students’ knowledge and perceptions of e-governance in community colleges, emphasizing its role in enhancing transparency, accountability, and administrative efficiency. Depending upon the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Digital Divide Theory (DDT), the research employs a quantitative, realism based ex-post facto research. Data were generated from 136 students through simple random sampling using structured questionnaires after informed consent. Statistical analyses, including chi-square and independent samples t-tests, reveal that students possess moderate knowledge of e-governance, demonstrating greater familiarity with technological aspects than governance strategies. The findings suggest that while community colleges are advancing toward digital transformation, progress remains hindered by infrastructural and educational gaps. The study recommends integrating governance topics into curricula, implementing digital literacy programs, and enhancing ICT infrastructure to ensure sustainable e-governance adoption.
