This letter came from the Coastal Convservation Association (CCA); I'm trying to stay away from politics but this directly relates to the fishing experience in Florida:
For the past 20 years Florida residents fishing in saltwater have been purchasing a saltwater fishing license. The licenses have generated over 200 million dollars which has been dedicated to marine research, management, and law enforcement. Since 1990 Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) have been working together to remove an exemption put into the bill at its inception. This exemption is known as the shoreline exemption, which allows Florida residents to fish in saltwater from the shoreline without a license.
Supporters believe that a recent amendment to the federal Magnuson - Stevens Fisheries Management Act, requiring states to “register” all saltwater anglers by 2010 and require payment for the license by 2011, should provide the push needed to eliminate the shoreline exemption in Florida. Florida’s current saltwater license would likely qualify for the federal angler registration program if the shoreline exemption was removed. If the exemption is not removed by 2011 recreational fisherman in Florida will have to purchase a federal fishing license that will cost between $15 and $20 on top of your Florida fishing license.
Currently, the Florida saltwater license brings in about 15 million dollars annually. The FWC has estimated that removal of the shoreline exemption would require an additional 208,000 to 302,000 anglers to obtain a license. Using the current base price on the resident license an additional 1.7 to 2.5 million dollars would be generated for marine fisheries research, management, and law enforcement. Also, every certified fishing license holder helps Florida obtain approximately $7 in Federal sport fish restoration funds.
Please contact your State Legislator and ask them to support the removal of the shoreline exemption in the saltwater fishing license. The removal of the exemption will start in the committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation on the Senate side and Agriculture and Natural Resources policy committee on the House side. The Senate Chairman for the Environmental Preservation and Conservation committee is Sen. Lee Constantine and the House Chairman for the Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy committee is Rep. Trudi Williams.
Senate
Environmental Preservation and Conservation
Chairman Lee Constantine
constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov
House
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Chairwomen Trudi Williams
trudi.williams@myfloridahouse.gov
Supporters believe that a recent amendment to the federal Magnuson - Stevens Fisheries Management Act, requiring states to “register” all saltwater anglers by 2010 and require payment for the license by 2011, should provide the push needed to eliminate the shoreline exemption in Florida. Florida’s current saltwater license would likely qualify for the federal angler registration program if the shoreline exemption was removed. If the exemption is not removed by 2011 recreational fisherman in Florida will have to purchase a federal fishing license that will cost between $15 and $20 on top of your Florida fishing license.
Currently, the Florida saltwater license brings in about 15 million dollars annually. The FWC has estimated that removal of the shoreline exemption would require an additional 208,000 to 302,000 anglers to obtain a license. Using the current base price on the resident license an additional 1.7 to 2.5 million dollars would be generated for marine fisheries research, management, and law enforcement. Also, every certified fishing license holder helps Florida obtain approximately $7 in Federal sport fish restoration funds.
Please contact your State Legislator and ask them to support the removal of the shoreline exemption in the saltwater fishing license. The removal of the exemption will start in the committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation on the Senate side and Agriculture and Natural Resources policy committee on the House side. The Senate Chairman for the Environmental Preservation and Conservation committee is Sen. Lee Constantine and the House Chairman for the Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy committee is Rep. Trudi Williams.
Senate
Environmental Preservation and Conservation
Chairman Lee Constantine
constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov
House
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Chairwomen Trudi Williams
trudi.williams@myfloridahouse.gov
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