There have been a lot of rumblings recently about a Recreational Saltwater License. The DEM, after having recently aquired, well pretty much stolen, fisheries management from having a voice (the groups are now only making recommendations, not managing anything
) has now started drafting plans for a Recreational Saltwater License like several other coastal states, but there is a twist.
Now most states that have a SW license do so to get a more accurate count of how many people are actually fishing and to get a better feel on the millions & millions that fishing brings to the local economies. These states also collect the license revenues and (usually) put them back into programs like access, angler education, better angler surveying, state of the fishies, enforcement, ya know - that sort of thing. There is also a federal program that will partially match funds generated by the state for many different environmental revenues, including the recreational fisheries. But the powers that be in Rhode Island are not looking to do that.
First, the federal matching is already fully implemented. No additional matching funds would be available as they've already been applied to other programs.
Second, as opposed to what you would think these monies would go towards, like back into making things better for either the fish or the recreational angler (I don't like that term), these monies would eventually just go into the general fund. I was not at the meeting but it was relayed to me that this money would initially go into it's own account, but there is no plan to put the money back in to anything related to fishing. More like a TAX than what we consider a Fishing License to be. Plus, after hearing from a state employee (nothing to do with DEM) that happens to be an angler opposed to this license, he says that many of these fees exist for other programs that are put into their own accounts which then get rolled directly into the general fund just days or hours before the legislative sessions end. That way they won't need to listen to the people make noise about it. Now this apparently has happened with many other "funds" from various state agencies but I have not been in Rhody long enough to witness it. This is common practice I'm told and they are pretty much already admitting that the money is not going back to support those that will be "taxed" to fish.
Third, a large majority of Rhode Island anglers are not opposed to this License provided that the money goes BACK into efforts that support our fishing and research of our fisheries - not some elected official's rainy day fund. Most out of state anglers are opposed because there is little doubt that a season's license would be more than that of a resident with them seeing perhaps smaller benefit. Now, personally, there is not a whole heck of a lot that I would benefit from better ramp facilities and fishing piers or handicap access to fishing spots but I do think they are all worthy initiatives. They improve the access to people in Rhode Island. Me?, I'd just like to not get a parking ticket when I park The Beast.
Fourth, it dies not seem likely that a SW License would be managed anything like the FW License (well, other than collecting the dinero for it) and it would not serve the same benefits that the FW fisherman receive - like stocking ponds, hatcheries, creating access, and studying the state of the fish...
This is really appearing to be a grab for cash with no substanital reinvestment to where this money could be properly used.
Now I think we would all benefit from these monies being returned to support fishing in Rhode Island. But that is pretty unlikely to happen. The state government just get's a little extra dough in the till... Hotel taxes to travelers - much of the money goes back in to that. The airport taxes, well they tend to support that infrastructure. Builder's licensing? Yep - at least some of that money goes back into that (although not as much as they generate). But a SW Fishing License? Nahh, they'll just spend that doing something totally unrelated....
When I find more info about this, such as meetings (there was one last week but I just heard about it last night) I'll pass that along.
I'm also interested in hearing what you think about it and under what conditions would you consider the license to be acceptable or not...
Thanks,
John