[JohnR]

Here is a summary from DZ on the License Issue:

The final meeting of the Recreational License Subcommittee of the Intergovernmental Working Group was held on Wednesday, March 13 at the Coastal Institute.

The final task of the subcommittee had been to draft potential legislation for a saltwater license. But, after discussion, the subcommittee voted unanimously to

NOT SUPPORT A RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE.

The motion noted that:
- all of the members of the subcommittee began the process with an open mind,
- learned about the financing of the Division of Fish & Wildlife and the Marine Fisheries Division
- investigated where current fishing and boating tax dollars are spent
- examined other states that have a license, including how their programs were administered, if they were able to protect the generated funds
- discussed the positive and negatives aspects of a recreational fishing license.

What was constantly pointed out during the process was an underlying concern by most citizens of Rhode Island, that the state's legislature had a history of failing to honor the sanctity of "restricted funds" accounts.

After this investigation was done, and after several lengthy meetings, the members of the subcommittee decided that there was no way they could support any sportfishing license for
Rhode Island, and declined to take the final step of drafting "ideal" legislation because they all felt there was no ideal legislation that would work in Rhode Island.

The subcommittee had been authorized under the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Modernization Act of 2001 and had been charged with investigating the feasibility of a saltwater
recreational fishing license.

The members of the subcommittee were:
David Borden of RIDEM (co-chair)
Steve Medeiros (co-chair), President of the R.I. Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) and a member of the R.I. Marine Fisheries Council
George Allen, member of the R.I.Marine Fisheries Council, of RISAA and of NCSFC
Frank Blount, owner of the Frances Fleet & a member of the New England Fisheries Management Council.
Edward Bogdan, a member of the East Bay Anglers and RISAA
Douglas MacPherson, 1st Vice President of RISAA
Ronald Mouchon, owner of Breachway Bait & Tackle
Dan Pedro, Secretary of West Bay Anglers and Narragansett Pier Saltwater Fishing Club
Stephen Segerson, Secretary of RISAA
Eugene Spring, of the Rhode Island Mobile Sportfishermen
Roger Tellier of the Bristol Striper Club
Capt. James White, Charter captain, Member RICPBA
Dennis Zambrotta, President of the Newport County Saltwater Fishing Club (NCSFC)

The subcommittee, although finished with their task on the license issue, have agreed to continue to meet in a new, permanent group, the Rhode Island Sportfishing Advisory Board,
to continue to work for the needs of recreational fishing and to work to obtain funds for recreational fisheries management.

I sat in a few of these meetings and I was very impressed by the questions being asked by the group and how they were able to remain objective on the proposal. I am also happy that the subcommittee returned the vote against recommending this license (have I said that enough yet??)...

I was also suprised by how few people not on the subcommittee turned out to these meetings as they were open to the public. One of the meetings I attended seemed to have only 2 other people not affiliated with the subcommittee...

The subcommittee, although finished with their task on the license issue, have agreed to continue to meet in a new, permanent group, the Rhode Island Sportfishing Advisory Board,to continue to work for the needs of recreational fishing and to work to obtain funds for recreational fisheries management.

In these meetings, several interesting ways to generate additional income were discussed to support recreational saltwater angling needs in Rhode Island. One of my favorite suggestions was a special DMV license plate (I'd get one for me and one for the wife) similar to what Mass has on their "Cape Cod & Islands" plate which generates extra funds ( I've read many of the locals feel that the plate is only for outsiders trying to fit in). Anyone have another suggestion to raise money without imposing a license??