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Arguing the difference between the word "license" and the word "registry" is the exact same as arguing the difference between an ORV "permit" or "inspection sticker". We are required to be counted, analyzed and will pay to fish in salt water whether you call it a license, a registry or Schindler's list. It surely tastes bad but we lost that fight.
As far as the Feds managing the registry, I was one of the last recreational fishing leaders to abandon the position that we should let the Feds manage the registry.
I changed my mind after I attended a briefing where NMFS representatives explained that there would be no regional or national registry and even a federally managed program will be implemented on a state by state basis, 2) The cost would be "similar" to the that of the HMS(aka Tuna) Permit and would return no additional services for that price and 3)The interpretation of the anadramous fish language is not as you claim but is that all anglers in the mairne environment will be required to register. MSBA also submitted questions to NMFS that were answered and published as well.
I would rather not have a license but that ship has sailed. Either way I am convinced that after we are counted all bag limits will be reduced as I think there are more rec fishers than any of us think. The more of us there are the less fish we can harvest.
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