I am not a commercial fisherman and this check was for my 2012 recreational saltwater permit. I'm not going to cash it and maybe thats the data they where looking for. That being said $500 would do alot to pay for hunting/fishing lic. and just plain bills. Being on the outer cape also makes it impractical to travel to RI or NH.
Seems like a cruel curse to put on you. Pass it up and every time fishing stinks you'll regret it. Claim it and every time fishing is good you'll regret it. Can't win.
cruel curse is exactly right. I got a call from the Globe and the reporter said she spoke to the survey people. They sent out checks of varying amounts with $500 being the most. Some of the surveys just asked how much you would need to be offerred for you to give up your permit and some like mine had actual checks. She said these offers will go out in four groups of mailings over the next few weeks.
She did say that the survey people said it had nothing to do with
fees for Permits or Lic. but to gauge economic impact of recreational fishing both real and perceived.