I know from magazine writing that 1/2 of recreational fishermen have been at it for five years or less. (That's why they always run about half a magazine full of beginner-oriented articles.)
I know this is isn't exactly the right number, but instead of getting a scientific calculator out, say 12% of new fishermen come to the sport each year. If you go by the Law of 72's (how long it takes for a quantity to double) it would mean that if a significant number of people were not leaving the sport voluntarily, the number of people sport-fishing would double every six-nine years. That's obviously not happening.
Maybe I'm mistaken, but I'm of the opinion that the natural attrition of people departing the sport each year must be fairly high. I really don't see the value in buying people out when so many are coming and going anyway. I can't see where the money for this is coming from other than the sale of licenses.
They understand if they use the license revenue to buy land for shore access, build boat ramps, make improvements to facilities, it will attract more people to the sport. Which was the stated purpose of instituting fees. But they don't want more people fishing, so they're pissing it away cutting checks to people who were probably going to quit now, or in the near future anyway.
The license requirement, in this implementation, is serving as punitive measure to discourage fishing, or as a reward to discourage fishing.

Raven,

They access the online Mass license data base right from the laptop in the truck. Your customer ID number is right above your name on the license. It's very unlikely they would run this unless they already have you for something else.

I purchased my saltwater license from main bait which is on the mass / RI line and he told me that the ri license lets you fish in mass and conn.

If you are a RI resident buying a RI Resident license you can fish MA, CT, and NY waters.

If you are a Non-Resident buying a Non-Resident RI license you cannot fish MA and CT....don't know about NY.