FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday June 12, 2008
MA Salt Water Fishing Registry (aka: License) Process to Begin
A statement from the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association
This morning, in newspapers across the state, it is being reported that
beginning in 2009, the federal government has announced a plan through
NOAA/Fisheries to institute a recreational angler registry in states
that do not have a salt water angler registration (read: license), and
this includes MA. This action is the result of a requirement in the
Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act passed in congress last year and
has been anticipated for some time. This announcement will without a
doubt trigger the formal process of MA considering developing a salt
water fishing license.
There are many unanswered questions and issues involved in and related
to the upcoming process and MSBA has been preparing our involvement for
over a year. Over the past winter on behalf of the club I approached
both the head of the MA DMF Sport Fishing Program, Dr. Mike Armstrong
and MA DMF Director Paul Diodati and suggested that the DMF not wait to
be forced into this process by a federal proposal and be proactive and
convene a committee of recreational fishing representatives to explore
options for MA recreational anglers. I am happy to report that last
week, MSBA was invited to participate in just such a committee. MSBA
President Bill Prodouz has appointed MSBA Past President and Gov't
Affairs Officer Patrick Paquette to represent and also educate and
inform the MSBA membership throughout this process.
Historically, MSBA has been opposed to a Salt Water Fishing License
and that position will not change without a vote of the MSBA Membership.
Conversations with and between members both on and off the floor of MSBA
monthly meetings indicates the MSBA membership is open minded to some
sort of registry/license if it contained certain details that would
benefit our fishing community and would not result in just another tax.
Being affiliated nationally with the Recreational Fishing Alliance also
has enabled MSBA to learn about registry/license details that have and
have not worked in other states. In the coming months, MSBA will
communicate accurate information to our membership via our newsletter
and website
www.msba.net and will undergo the process of making
decisions and taking positions. As always, MSBA is prepared for the
coming process and will help lead the MA recreational fishing community
through the upcoming process.
One note of caution: In the coming days and weeks there will be a great
deal of speculation, rumor, confusion and mis-information written in
newspapers and on the internet about the "pending" registry/license and
related processes. MSBA urges all MA recreational anglers to avoid
joining the inevitable emotional roller coaster and resist the urge to
react to every bit of information. Our state has a fifty plus year
history of organized recreational fishing organizations and the best way
to address the issues is through these organizations that have the
experience and relationships needed to navigate through the political
process we now face.
In addition to participating on the MA DMF committee mentioned above,
MSBA has already taken action to provide our membership with accurate
information. At the MSBA membership meeting on June 25th, in addition to
the monthly entertainment, this month supplied by Armand Tetreault of
Rhode Island Poppers, MSBA will shorten it's regular business meeting in
order to hear a 20 minute presentation, without debate, from the federal
agencies developing the angler registration program announced today.
__._,_.___
Hybrid Mode
