Bring the Paddlefish Back to PA Scuba Parks
Rick Harkins Nov 09, 2026
Imagine dropping into a Pennsylvania quarry and seeing a five-foot fish glide past with a long, flat snout out front.
That could happen. And a new Senate resolution is trying to make it possible.
What is Senate Resolution 409?
SR 409 was introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate on October 27, 2026. It urges the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) to evaluate and approve adding the American paddlefish to its list of species approved for open system propagation and introductions. State legislative trackers list Sen. Lisa Boscola as the primary sponsor.
Right now it has been referred to the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee. It has not passed.
One thing to know: it's a resolution, not a law. It asks the PFBC to act. It doesn't force them to.
What's a paddlefish?
Paddlefish are one of the strangest fish in North America. They're filter feeders with a long paddle-shaped snout, and they look a bit like a shark. The diver group behind this push says they can grow to five feet long in the wild.
They're also ancient. Fossil records of paddlefish go back more than 125 million years.
They used to live here
Paddlefish are native to western Pennsylvania. The state's last record from the old days was a fish caught in 1919 where the Kiskiminetas and Allegheny rivers meet. After that they disappeared, pushed out by poor water quality, lost habitat, and navigation dams that blocked their migration routes.
Water quality improved over the following decades. In 1991, the PFBC started a stocking program to bring them back to the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. Stocking ended after 2011 because of budget limits, according to the commission's three rivers biologist.
So this isn't about introducing something foreign. It's about a fish that belongs here.
What does this have to do with scuba?
The push comes from a group of Pennsylvania divers (the Keystone Paddlefish Campaign, run by Dive Every Puddle). They wanted a new attraction for the quarries where they train and play. Paddlefish are a popular draw at scuba parks in other states, but they're not on the PFBC's approved list for stocking here.
Their proposal says the change would create an attraction for private and public waters, give hatcheries and outfitters a new breeding option, and help support future reintroduction projects. They say it would do this at little or no cost to taxpayers.
The resolution itself makes a similar case. It says distinctive fish species can boost recreational fishing, ecotourism (it specifically names freshwater scuba diving), and income for local businesses and outfitters.
Why divers should care
Pennsylvania doesn't have ocean. Our dive parks are quarries and lakes, and they live on repeat visits. A big, odd, memorable animal is a reason to come back.
It's also a good story. Divers helping bring a native species back is hard to beat.
What you can do
- Watch the resolution. Follow SR 409 on the PA General Assembly site.
- Tell your senator. Resolutions move when legislators hear from voters. The Keystone Paddlefish Campaign says it will help set up meetings with your legislator.
- Spread the word. Share this post with your dive buddies.
Get-N-Wet Scuba supports SR 409. A native fish that gives divers a reason to keep coming back to Pennsylvania's dive parks is good for the sport. If you agree, follow the resolution and tell your senator. And stop by the shop in Harrisburg to talk scuba.
