If not having any issues with fuel starvation, running lean, etc., leave it in. Depending on physical size of it may be OK. Usually a filter like that is small and is for small engines and do not have sufficient flow.
If your 31 does not have one, install a fuel shutoff Pencil Filter. This filter installs into the top of the fuel shutoff and sticks up into the gas tank and keeps crud out if the entire fuel system including the shutoff. Rust particles/etc. can ruin a fuel shutoff causing it not to shutoff completely.
If desiring more filtering and having problems with the type of filter being used such as above you can use the sediment bowl micro filter if you have a glass sediment bowl, or use an automotive type filter designed for low pressure/high flow.
Personally if I was using the type pictured I would make sure I had a spare in the A. If it caused a problem and you were miles from home - what would you do? You really can not clean it. With it removed you would need a spare gas line, or a way to fill the gap in the gas line.