dart96

Just wanted to post this here since I'm sure a lot of people will be interested. Thanks for the heads up Coalman @ NE Sportsman.



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News from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
January 5, 2007
Phone: (603) 271-3211
Email: info@wildlife.state.nh.us
For information and online licenses, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us

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CONTACT:
John Nelson: (603) 868-1095
Douglas Grout: (603) 868-1095
Liza Poinier: (603) 271-3211
January 5, 2007

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING ON PROPOSED MARINE RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE

DURHAM, N.H. -- The New HampshireFish and Game Department invites saltwater anglers in New Hampshire toa public information session on January 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the Region 3office at 225 Main Street in Durham to discuss proposed legislation fora marine recreational fishing license in New Hampshire.

The New Hampshire Fish and GameCommission has proposed a marine recreational fishing license as one ofseveral options for new funding mechanisms and data gathering for theNew Hampshire Fish and Game Department. The marine fishing licensewould generate new license dollars while providing "user funding" forFish and Game's management of marine resources. It would also help Fishand Game identify saltwater anglers, something now required by thefederal Magnuson-Stevens Act. The public information session willaddress these issues in addition to reciprocity with other coastalstates and the concerns of party or charter boat owners.

The marine recreational licenseproposal under consideration will have a reciprocal nature, that is,any state recreational saltwater fishing license would be honored inadjoining states and federal waters. As with New Hampshire's freshwaterfishing licenses, marine recreational licenses could be purchasedonline, and a one-day license option is being considered.

The Fish and Game Department, aself-funded state agency, is facing a serious financial shortfall.Revenue, including income from the sale of hunting and freshwaterfishing licenses, has been flat, while the cost of doing businesscontinues to rise. In recent years, Fish and Game has been forced todip into its long-term savings, which will soon be gone, leaving nochoice but to cut programs and services to make ends meet unlessadditional revenue sources are found.

At the same time, a recentlypassed federal law called the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires the federalgovernment to implement a registry program for all marine recreationalanglers as a means to improve the quality and accuracy of catch andeffort data collected by the Marine Recreational Fishery StatisticsSurvey (MRFSS). Information from the MRFSS is regularly used in stockassessments that assist in the management of fish such as striped bass,cod, haddock, and bluefish. The Act also indicates that marine anglerswould be exempt from this federal registry program if the State had amarine recreational fishing license. Currently, the Atlantic coaststates of North Carolina through Florida, as well as all Gulf andPacific coast states, require a marine recreational fishing license tofish in saltwater.

For more information on this meeting, contact John Nelson or Doug Grout at (603) 868-1095.

New Hampshire Fish and Game is the guardian of the state's fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.FishNH.com.

geminiII

Fish Free Or Die...........................

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Mist-Rest

Well just like Maine they are facing the same problems with users of the system like hikers, kayakers, and others that require some of the funding dollars without them paying into the system.

If they were to impose a user fee (registration) on yaks, canoes, and mountain bikes they would have lots of money to fully fund the system. The current (majority) users of the woods and waters are not the same ones that funded the needed operations in years past. Just who do they think paid for the parking area and the ramp to launch at? A lot of the trails were snowmobile trails. These users don't want to see "those" people any more on "their" trails, lands, and waters.

The chances of the tree huggers wrapping their arms around that concept is nil. They get to use the lands that have for years been managed and paid for on the backs of hunters and fisher people. These free loaders just use the system without paying for it. OOhhhh. I forgot. They say their taxes pay for it.

If the fee was for land based enforcement of the saltwater fisheries I could understand it. From a boat I think that boaters pay enough. After all, NH only has 40 miles or so of shoreline. That would probably not generate enough income to even pay for itself.

I say charge the other users to make up the shortfall.

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2003 Boston Whaler 255 Conquest w/ twin 200 HPDI's




I've never been a racist. I don't like the white half either.

CMP

Here we go again. A license, if funds were specifically directed towards salt-water issues, is not in and of itself a bad idea. However, as we all know, money to a politician is like crack to an addict and I guarantee you that the money would be stolen and mis-used, creating yet another fee for no service situation. No thanks...

CMP

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taJon

We already pay to use our boats, and to fish for tuna and what not. I don't think we need to pay more, do you? The game warden tried to tell my friend he needed a fishing license to fish on his property on a private lake, come on..........

Harpoon

If the cost of the government agency is going up .....Just Cut costs !!

What the hell is this Massachusetts ?

31CAT

you just need to send that message 5,000,000 time to the goverment.

just seems out of control to do that with the little ocean front the NH has. they would make lots more $ to charge to get on the beach.