Walker signs bill providing immunity for ‘fish sticks’ projects

A law Gov. Scott Walker signed this week provides immunity from civil liability for damage caused by structures used to protect and cultivate fish and wildlife in waterways and wetlands.

The immunity also applies to certain noncommercial net pens that are used to hold and rear fish in order to stock a body of water.  The original version of the proposal would have prevented those who set up the structures, which are sometimes referred to as “fish sticks,” from having any duty to maintain them or warn others of their existence.

An amendment later passed by lawmakers clarifies that a person must warn the public of the structure’s existence if required to do so by statute or under an administrative code. The same amendment also provides the same sort of immunity for structures that are placed on the bed of waterways or wetlands, even if they were set up by a previous title holder.