At a workshop on April 7, the legislature’s Marine Resources Committee tabled two bills related to the creation of a registry of recreational saltwater fishermen. The committee will likely readdress the bills sometime in the next month.
One of the bills, sponsored by Sen. David Trahan, would have created a free state registry of all recreational saltwater fishermen.
The other bill, sponsored by Rep. Jon McKane, would have abolished the state’s current registry, allowing the federal government to take over administration of the recreational saltwater registry.
Historically, no license or registry has been required for recreational saltwater fishing. However, three years ago, the federal government enacted rules requiring states to provide data on who is fishing in saltwater.
The function of the registry is to gather information on recreational saltwater fishermen for the purpose of conducting surveys to find out how often they fish and what they are taking. This will help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration manage and rebuild fish stocks.
As of Jan. 1 of this year, the Dept. of Marine Resources has been operating a recreational saltwater fishing registry. Fishermen under 16 years old are exempt from the requirement to register.
Recreational saltwater fishermen currently have several options: they may purchase a freshwater fishing license and check a box indicating that they fish saltwater as well; for non-residents and fishermen who do not hold a freshwater license, they may register for free with DMR to fish saltwater, but there is a $1 or $2 agent fee depending on how they register.
For fishermen who intend to fish for striped bass, an additional striped bass endorsement is required for many fishermen. Holders of freshwater licenses are not required to purchase a striped bass endorsement. The striped bass endorsement costs $5 for residents and $15 for non-residents.
Commercial saltwater fishermen have the option to check a box on their commercial license indicating that they fish recreationally for no extra charge.
Under Trahan’s bill, there would be no state fees associated with recreational saltwater fishing, for residents or non-residents. The striped bass endorsement will be removed.
Anyone who wants to fish saltwater will either buy a freshwater license and check a box indicating they fish saltwater, or register solely as a saltwater fisherman at no charge. Commercial fishermen will still be able to check a box on their commercial license indicating that they fish recreationally.
“Some places might charge a $1 or $2 registration free, but that’s for the dealer, not the state,” Trahan said.
McKane’s bill would abolish the current registry. Under the federal order, if states fail to enact a state license or registry, a federally controlled registry will take effect. Under the federal registry, anyone fishing in federal waters – more than three miles off the coast – will be required to pay $15 to register for recreational saltwater fishing. Anyone fishing within three miles for anadromous species – saltwater fish that breed in freshwater, such as striped bass and smelt – will also have to pay $15 to register under the federal registry.
Anyone fishing only for non-anadromous fishes within three miles of the coast – a significant percentage of recreational saltwater fishermen – would not have to register or pay any fees to fish in saltwater under the federal registry, a big reason that McKane supports passing the registry to the federal government, he said.
DMR has not provided detailed information on how much it would cost for the state to administer the register, McKane said. However, giving the costs for a federally mandated program to the federal government is preferable to adding them to an already strained DMR budget, he said, especially if the federal registry would only impact a limited portion of the saltwater fishing population.
As for the benefits of increased data on saltwater fishing for the purpose of improving fishery management, McKane believes “we can get all the data we need voluntarily,” he said.
Using a combination of check boxes on freshwater fishing licenses, boat registrations and commercial licenses, as well as free surveys, with “a minimal outreach program, we ought to be able to reach at least three quarters of saltwater fishermen,” McKane said.
McKane and Trahan both said the hold-up at the committee was a financial issue. McKane said the committee is waiting for more detailed financial information from DMR on the cost of the registry, and Trahan said they’re “holding out for more money.”
Trahan said the committee would like to see a paid recreational saltwater fishing license or registry created, in order to draw revenue for DMR.
DMR has voiced their support for Trahan’s bill. Their support is in line with the Gov. Paul LePage’s opinion on the registry.
LePage’s administration has expressed their full support for a free registry. LePage’s administration asked DMR to provide a list of priorities and the costs of their current staff levels, “and told [DMR], ‘We’ll find a way to fund it,'” said Pat Keliher, acting Deputy Commissioner of DMR.
“The Governor said he believes general fund money should be used to support these programs, not additional fees to the users,” Keliher said.
LePage’s communications director Dan Demeritt confirmed these statements reflect the Governor’s position on the issue.
