HAWLEY - While miniscule in comparison to the size of Godzilla, the beast which makes its third film edition - in 3D no less - this coming weekend, there is a much more real and present threat to Pennsylvania's waters in the form of invasive crayfish.

At this week's meeting of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission board of commissioners at Lake Wallenpaupack, commissioners approved a regulation change which restricts the sale, possession, introduction, transportation and importation of all live crayfish in Pennsylvania. Under the amended regulation, licensed anglers are permitted to collect a maximum of 50 crayfish per day.When crayfish are transported away from the water from which they were collected, the head must be removed behind the eyes. When crayfish are used as bait in the water from which they were taken, the crayfish can remain intact.Unaffected by the regulation are crayfish used for testing and scientific purposes or for restaurant consumption, provided adequate measures have been taken to prevent their escape and documentation states the point of origin and the destination where they are to be delivered. This change takes effect, January 1, 2015."The replacement of native crayfish by introduced crayfish - like the invasive rusty crayfish - represents a significant threat to aquatic communities," Invertebrate Zoologist and Non-Game Biologist with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy said Dave Lieb said. "Exotic crayfish populations grow quickly and have negative effects on amphibians, mussels and fishes. Stringent regulations will help prevent additional introductions of invasive crayfish."In other action, the commissioners added Nis Creek, from the headwaters to the month, in Carbon County and steams in Centre, Clinton and Mifflin counties to the list of Class A wild trout streams. Also added were 18 waters to the list of wild trout streams, the section limits of three waters were adjusted and 48 waters were removed from the list.Final rulemaking was adopted which reduces the recreational harvest of American eel by increasing the minimum size limit to nine inches and decreasing the creel limit from 50 to 25. This action implements recommendations from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Committee, which concluded that the American eel population is depleted in U.S. waters and that the species needed more protection.In action that will improve conditions for anglers and boaters, the board approved for $65,000 the acquisition of approximately 4,960 linear feet of access on Conneaut Creek as it flows across two parcels of property in Spring Township, Crawford County. This easement will be used for public fishing, boating and riparian and fishery management.Proposed was a regulation change to reduce a no-wake zone at Shikellamy State Park on the Susquehanna River near Sunbury in Northumberland County. This area is from the boat launch on the south side of Packer's Island and is designed to improve boating in the area.Currently, the no-wake zone currently extends one-third mile upstream from the state park boat launch. This proposed change would reduce it to 200 feet above the bridge at Route 147, a reduction of about 700 feet.Also proposed is a regulation change to improve boating safety by prohibiting the use of hydro-flying devices. These devices use pressurized water through jet ports to provide lift and to allow an operator to become airborne at speeds up to 30 mph.Some devices attach to a boat, which may or may not be occupied, while others connect to a power source which floats in the water. Public comments on both proposals will be accepted for 30 days after the notices are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.Comments can be submitted to the PFBC through its website at

www.fishandboat.com/reg398.htm

http://www.fishandboat.com/reg398.htm . If adopted on final rulemaking, changes to both proposals would take effect on January 1, 2015.