Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyS
Saltwater fishing license is needed in:
Hawaii-not yet
Alaska-yes
Washington-yes
Oregon-yes
California-yes
Texas-yes
Louisiana-yes
Mississippi-yes
Alabama-yes
Florida-yes
Georgia-yes
South Carolina-yes
North Carolina-yes
Virginia-yes
Delaware-yes
Maryland-yes
New Jersey-sw registry
New York-sw registry
Connecticut-yes
Massachusetts-yes
Rhode Island-yes
New Hampshire-yes
Maine- it's complicated (typical Maine)
The registry is an important tool that will help fishermen and policy makers work together to better account for the contributions and impacts of saltwater anglers on ocean ecosystems and coastal economies. It is part of a national overhaul of the way NOAA collects and reports recreational fishing data. The goal of the initiative – known as the Marine Recreational Information Program, or MRIP – is to provide the most accurate information possible that can be used to determine the health of fish stocks. Reliable, universally trusted data will in turn aid anglers, fisheries managers and other stakeholders in their combined efforts to effectively and fairly set the rules that will ensure the long term sustainability of recreational fishing.
But only 2 states use the registry, I'm confused ???  |
Andy:
NSAR was MANDATED by MSA in 2007 for ALL states to comply in one form or another:
The National Saltwater Angler Registry (NSAR) is a database of recreational saltwater anglers that helps NOAA gather data on recreational fisheries. A saltwater fishing license is usually required to fish in most public bodies of water and helps fund conservation efforts.
NJ opted to comply via the FREE NSAR so as not to incur any additional costs to NJ Salt water anglers as the Salt water license debate remains ongoing in NJ. AS you stated a lot of states already have the SWL. Here in NJ the debate is wether the SWL fees would actually go to fund conservation efforts (as FW licenses do) or just go into a "general fund" . To date NJ can not or has not answered that question so we opt for the MANDATED free NSWR until this debate can be resolved.
Hope that helps.
