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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The lands and waters of Texas are home to a diverse |
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range of animals, and a select number of these species have been |
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recognized as official state symbols as a result of their |
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significance to our history and culture; and |
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WHEREAS, A particularly rich natural environment is found |
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along the Texas Gulf Coast, and of the many distinctive plants and |
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wildlife found in that region, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) |
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is particularly deserving of recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, Also known as the redfish and the bull red, this |
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majestic saltwater fish spends the first three years of its life in |
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bays along the coast before heading into the open waters of the Gulf |
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of Mexico; it also demonstrates the hardiness and adaptability so |
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often found in the Lone Star State, swimming up rivers on occasion |
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and also taking up residence in certain inland reservoirs; and |
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WHEREAS, Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of the |
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fish is its Texas-sized stature; at three years of age, the typical |
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red drum is two-and-a-half feet long and will grow larger over the |
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course of its long life; the biggest red drum caught in Texas waters |
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was 54.25 inches long and weighed nearly 60 pounds; and |
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WHEREAS, The fish's size, along with its power, speed, and |
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delicious flavor, has made it one of the most popular game species |
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in Texas waters; whether wading through the shallows, casting with |
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fly rods, or trying their luck in pier or surf fishing, anglers of |
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all types prize the red drum as a catch; as a result, the fish plays |
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an important role in boosting recreational tourism; and |
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WHEREAS, In decades past, redfish also helped drive the |
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state's commercial fishing industry and at times made up as much as |
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35 percent of its landings; overfishing and illegal netting took a |
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toll, however, and by the early 1980s the drum population had |
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dropped to dangerously low levels throughout the Gulf of Mexico; |
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fortunately, state officials responded to the situation by enacting |
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legislation and adopting wise management and enforcement measures, |
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including the development of a revolutionary hatchery; today, |
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numbers have rebounded to the point where the state has one of the |
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best red drum fisheries in the nation; and |
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WHEREAS, An environmental success story as well as an |
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awe-inspiring and much-sought-after resident of the Gulf Coast |
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waters, the red drum is a celebrated member of our natural world, |
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and it is indeed a fitting symbol of the Lone Star State; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate the red drum as the official State Saltwater Fish |
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of Texas. |