December 26, 2008
Seacoast Online
PORTSMOUTH — A bill that could require New Hampshire saltwater anglers to pay a $15 license fee may have a strong chance at passage. That’s because a federal registry requirement for the fishermen will take effect in 2010.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service released its final ruling Tuesday to create a national saltwater angler registry to help the nation better protect shared marine resources. A requirement to establish it was included in a statute approved by Congress in 2007.
NOAA had originally proposed that registration be required beginning Jan. 1, but based on public input decided to give states a year to January 2010 to put in place their own data collection systems.
If states put in their own licensing and registry system — and if they meet the federal requirements for better tracking and accountability of saltwater anglers and their catch — the money raised by the licensing fee will stay in the state for conservation uses. Otherwise, the money goes to Washington and into the general fund.
An estimated fee of $15 to $25 per angler per year will be charged starting in 2011.
There are efforts under way to get legislation in for New Hampshire. Rep. Dennis Abbott, D-Newmarket, is sponsoring the bill.
A bill seeking a saltwater license failed two years ago. Now that it’s mandatory it might be looked on more favorably.
“We’ll be filing a bill on behalf of the department to introduce a saltwater license,” Abbott said “We will offer reciprocity to our neighboring water states. We didn’t have that last time. One of the principal reasons New Hampshire should be in favor of this is even though the money comes out-of-pocket, it will stay in the state and the department will look at ways to use it for the benefit of saltwater sportsmen. It contains a $15 licensing fee that is the same for residents and non-residents alike.”
Doug Grout, chief of Fish and Game’s marine fisheries division said the department is looking to have a license in place by 2011, when the fee begins. That means New Hampshire anglers will need to register federally in 2010.
“We can’t be exempted until we have a license in place,” Grout said. “Our guidelines will be crafted based on the rules. What we’re trying to do has good merit, to improve the data collection.”
Ritchie White a member of Coastal Conservation Association-NH said he strongly supports the information that will be received from the angler registry and he also thinks it makes sense to allow the states manage their own information and pass it on to NOAA.
“It definitely makes no sense to send the money to Washington,” White said. “We have plenty of important uses for it here.”
Charter boat captains can have one less concern about the registry. Anglers who fish only on licensed party, charter, or guide boats will not be required to register with NOAA since these vessels are surveyed separately from angler surveys.
Capt. Ray Maimone of Harvester Charters in Rye is the New Hampshire representative to the International Game Fish Association. He said the two things he wants to see is better information on where the state will use the money from the fee and for Maine and Massachusetts to have reciprocity.
“New Hampshire wanted a license two years ago, and I was against it,” Maimone said. “But I came to realize we do need it because the feds are going to push it on us.”
Charter Capt. Peter Whelan is also concerned with reciprocity. He pointed out that the Isles of Shoals is partly in New Hampshire and partly in Maine.
York Capt. David Gittins said reciprocity is the most important issue
“This gives us the opportunity to collect funds for the state rather than the federal,” Gittins said. “I have been involved for many years in conservation so I recognize the need for accountability, to see if some of these regulations are warranted.”
Gittins said reciprocity is important to the charter boat captains.
“When Maine introduced their guides license, they allowed any state already working in Maine to be grandfathered,” he said. At least that was a good gesture.”
Maine is also working on state legislation. But, they aren’t interested in reciprocity.
David Farmer, deputy chief of staff for Gov. John Baldacci, said the Department of Marine Resources is the lead agency on the legislation.
“We will submit a bill to explore that issue,” Farmer said. “The registry was imposed at the federal level and the resources will go to them if we don’t. We prefer talking keeping resources here. The money would be dedicated toward the fisheries. We will do education because people are suspicious of new fees. We want people to understand this is coming so we might as well have the fees.”
But, David Etnier, deputy commissioner of the DMR said they will not offer reciprocity.
“We will have a resident and non-resident license structure,” Etnier said. “We are contemplating a variety of licenses to accomplish our goals. Reciprocity with any state doesn’t serve our purpose of getting accurate landing information.”
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CONCORD, N.H. – On December 31, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Fisheries Service will release the final rule creating a national saltwater angler registry of all marine recreational fishermen to help the nation better protect its shared marine resources. The rule requires anglers and spearfishers who fish recreationally in federal ocean waters or who fish anywhere in tidal waters for anadromous fish, including striped bass, smelt, shad, or salmon, to register with the national saltwater angler registry beginning January 1, 2010. NOAA had originally proposed that registration be required beginning in January 2009, but, based on public input, decided to give states another year to put in place their own data collection systems. The requirement to establish a registry was part of a law approved by Congress in 2007.
“Under the new rule, New Hampshire saltwater anglers will not have to register in January 2009,” said Douglas Grout, Chief of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Marine Division. “A year from now, they will have to register, either for the federal saltwater angler registry, or a state licensing system if the state has one in place that meets federal data collection requirements.”
Here’s how it will work: Beginning in January 2010, NOAA will implement the national registration system. At that time, anglers in states that do not have a state licensing or registration system must register through NOAA. No federal fee will be charged in 2010, but an estimated fee of $15 to $25 per angler will be charged starting in 2011. Anglers fishing from licensed party or charter boats would not be required to registered with NOAA, since these vessels are surveyed separately from angler surveys.
“NOAA wants to work closely with the states and anglers to better capture the contributions and effects of sportfishing,” said Jim Balsiger, acting assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “We expect that this additional year will allow a number of states to put in place systems to register their anglers annually and provide this information to NOAA.”
Proposed legislation has been filed in the New Hampshire House of Representatives that would establish a state recreational saltwater license for fishing marine fish species in coastal or estuarine waters (2009-H-0196-R).
If saltwater anglers are not licensed or registered through a state system and want to fish in federal waters, they will be required to register with NOAA. They must also register if they fish in tidal waters for anadromous fish such as striped bass, smelt, shad, and salmon that spawn in rivers and spend their adult lives in estuaries and oceans.
NOAA received nearly 500 comments from anglers, state officials, and fishing and environmental organizations on its proposed national registry rule during the comment period from June 12 until Aug. 21, 2008. The registry is one component of the agency’s new Marine Recreational Information Program, an initiative to enhance data collection on recreational catch and effort.
To read the final registry rule and other information about the Marine Recreational Information Program, go to: http://www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s marine, fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.FishNH.com/marine