Government wants saltwater anglers to register, pay fee (Published: Thursday, June 12, 2008 )
Saltwater anglers would need to register with the federal government to go fishing next year, and starting in 2011 pay an annual fee between $15 and $25.
The goal of the proposal is to assemble a better database of recreational fishermen so they can be interviewed more thoroughly on what they catch. This information would be used to better manage fisheries.
Such surveys are now based on meetings with anglers when they return to the dock and using phone books from coastal areas to cold-call people about their fishing habits.
The official proposal from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, came out in the Federal Register on Wednesday. It covers anglers and spearfishermen but does not include commercial fishermen, since they already give detailed reports of their catches.
The rule covers federal waters off New Jersey outside three miles and anadromous species of fish in state waters inside three miles. This includes major species such as striped bass, shad and summer flounder. Anadromous species spawn in inland areas but spend their adult life in estuaries and the ocean.
Gordon Colvin, an NOAA biologist heading up the registry effort, said pretty much anybody fishing in tidal waters "where anadromous fish are likely to be caught" must be registered.
New Jersey anglers knew this was coming since last year, when Congress passed a law calling for a national registry of all saltwater anglers by 2009.
The proposal allows states with their own saltwater fishing license to be exempted from the federal regulations, and this has renewed calls to put a program in place in New Jersey, one of seven northeast states that do not have a saltwater license.
The federal government is urging states to set up their own license program and is ready to issue exemptions for those that do. The biggest benefit to this is the money collected would go to state fishing programs instead of directly to the U.S. Treasury.
"We have time. It's two and a half years before a fee goes into effect. I'm sure once things get going we can get it done in time," said Gil Ewing, chairman of the N.J. Marine Fisheries Council.
Ewing has been a big booster of a state license. He noted the state recently faced a moratorium on tautog fishing partly because it did not have the money to conduct research to prove its case that more tog could be landed. Ewing said a number of New Jersey fishery workers have retired and not been replaced due to lack of funding.
"Personally, I think it's the thing to do. It makes so much more sense economically. I see no negatives to having our own rather than one from the federal government," Ewing said.
The proposal outlined by NOAA does include some good news for the New Jersey shore, as licensed party and charter boats would be exempt. There had been much concern when the 2007 federal law passed that such operations would have to ask fishing tourists for a license fee, and that this would stifle business.
There also are exemptions for indigenous people such as American Indians who traditionally fish for food and not for sport. Anglers under the age of 16 also would be exempt.
Ewing disputes federal estimates that 2 million anglers will need to register. There are as many as 20 million saltwater anglers nationally but the government figures most coastal states have licenses and will seek the exemption.
That still leaves Hawaii and seven northeastern states from New Jersey to Maine. Ewing said the 2 million estimate is way too low.
"I think they're way off on the angler count. There's 1 million in New Jersey," Ewing said.
Another potential concern is what would happen if the new, more accurate fish surveys done using the registry show landings are much higher than previously thought. Some think this could lead to drastic cutbacks on what they are allowed to land. For all anybody really knows, the reverse could happen.
The only thing everybody seems to agree on is that the existing data collection system is seriously flawed.
NOAA is simply stressing the idea that good data would lead to better management and this would prevent overfishing, which is good for the sport's future.
"There is no conspiracy here. It really is a recognition on our part that we have poor data on recreational fisheries," said Jim Balsiger, of NOAA's Fisheries Service.
Colvin said a toll-free phone number and a Web-based method of registering will be set up. An outreach effort is planned for later this year that will include getting the message out to those who do not speak English. Anglers would have to register before their first fishing trip in 2009.
Colvin said enforcement would be done by state and federal agencies. Penalties for not registering will be outlined in a future proposal.
Anglers will have to supply their name, address, phone number and regions where they fish. NOAA says the information will not be released to the public. States that have license programs will supply this information to NOAA. This will lead to surveys of the anglers.
"We will be getting more data for the dollar invested. It's in everybody's interest to have decisions made on data that is as accurate as it can be. If we underestimate the recreational catch we may allow overfishing that will harm stocks," Colvin said.
To e-mail Richard Degener at The Press:
RDegener@pressofac.com
TO LEARN MORE Log onto
www.countmyfish.noaa.gov. The Web site includes the proposal and gives detailed instructions on how to submit public comments on it, which will be accepted until Aug. 11.
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/1...ry/180852.htmlhttp://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2008/20080611_anglerregistration.htmlhttp://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/mrip/aboutus/organization/anglerteam.htmlhttp://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/mrip/aboutus/organization/downloads/Registry_Federal_Register_Notice.pdfhttp://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/mrip/aboutus/organization/downloads/national_angler_registry_press_release.pdfhttp://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/mrip/aboutus/organization/downloads/NOAA_Registry_Proposed_Rule_Fact_Sheet.pdf
