The Cost Of Not Having A New Jersey Salt Water License

[Kensdock]

THE COST OF NO
NEW JERSEY SALT WATER FISHING LICENSE
TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE SALT WATER FISHERMEN OF NEW JERSEY


150 Million dollars in federal stimulus money

7 Salt water hatcheries

3,129 immediate construction jobs benefiting local economies near hatchery sites.

169 permanent green jobs in the form of biologists and other hatchery personnel.

Millions of dollars of New Jersey's fair share of the Federal excise tax return.

40 million dollars annually in license fees to enhance New Jersey salt water fishing

Millions in lost tourist dollars

Millions of lost recreational fishing hours.

The ability to protect against poaching of our salt water fish.

The continued bankruptcy of bait shops,charter fishing operations,party boats and other related businesses

The ability of New Jersey to responsibly manage the States marine resources.

New Jersey fishermen will lose their fair share of flounder, sea bass, tug and other fish due to the inability to submit the proper data to the federal government.

Negative impact to our New Jersey shore culture

Reduced value of New Jersey waterfront property

The ability of New Jersey to proactively rebuild the States depleted Weakfish population.

Reduced opportunities for future generations of New Jersey salt water anglers!

[PBangler]

Kensdock,

Do you want to know or even care to know what actually lies ahead for recreational fishing? You can’t learn this by being on the water or by generations of fishermen in the family.

You’d have to know how the recent amendments to the governing laws of the 2006 Magnuson Stevens Reauthorization Act were interpreted by the NMFS. You’d have to read the guidance given to all United States Federal Coastal Fisheries Management Councils to follow.

You’d have to know in our own little neck of the woods in the Mid-Atlantic an omnibus document is in draft as we speak for all of our fisheries. You’d have to read it is inclusive of recreational paybacks, shut-downs, new accountability for all dead recreationally discarded fish and buffers for ACL’s and ACT’s.

IOW, we are headed for a drastic change in management, which has to be enacted by either 2010 or 2011, depending on the condition of the stock. Add to this we will be hitting rebuilding deadlines in the upcoming years, with the potential for complete closures.

I hope you enjoyed your fluke fishing this year and thanked founders & contributors of the SSSFF for the additional quota received.

Rome is burning and a SWL isn’t going to put a dent in the fire.

[Pete]

North Carolina has a saltwater license, yet they are now having the luxury of having to endure a two species full closure. I seriously doubt that little, if anything can be done license or not. That is, once the feds put the hammer down. Looks like challenges similar to the RFA and Ssfff are in order by those southern boys. My money is better spent in the aforementioned orgs. Rather than a saltwater liscense. At least I can see the results that come from fighting the good fight. I veiw the license as a capitulation, should it become a reality, by the fishing fraternity of this great state. Registration YES, license NO. This isn't the lesser of two evils, it is good versus evil.

New Jersey has a way of luring is in. They start small, then increase fees at will. Sort of an open door type policy. Try to get it closed.

We HAVE to register. That IS the law for 2010. How much it will cost is anyones guess. Hopefully, nothing. In NJ that IS wishful thinking.

All avenues need to be exhausted, before the imposition of any "fees".

We are the taxed to the bone state. Additional costs don't lessen the burden.

Just my two cents.

Pete

[Kensdock]

Deer hunting today,just in for a second. I will shout back to you tonight.

[GottaGo Joe]

Deer hunting...do you have a list of all the licenses and/or permits that are needed to hunt? The hunting license started out as a 'small fee' to pay for an improved hunt. What are the fees now? Has the hunt improved? Is there more land to hunt or do you need to pay to hunt someone's private property?

This is the very same route a fishing license will take if imposed on us.

[njdiver]

Saltwater Registry Information

The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds saltwater anglers that the federal government's National Saltwater Angler Registry Program requires most New Jersey saltwater anglers to register prior to fishing in 2010.

You must register if you*

* Fish for or catch anadromous species (striped bass, shad, river herring) in state tidal waters
* Fish in Federal waters (more than 3 miles from shore)

You do not have to register if you*

* Are under 16 years of age
* Only fish on federally licensed party or charter boats
* Hold a Highly Migratory Species Angling Permit

Online and telephone registration will begin January 1, 2010. Register online at www.countmyfish.noaa.gov or call toll free 888-674-7411.

Registration is free in 2010.

If you need assistance please email njfishandwildlife@dep.state.nj.us.


http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/new...gistryinfo.htm

[Tuna Tales]

Kensdock:

We went through this crap already - please give it up...it is getting old.

I own a HMS Federal Extortion Permit...what has it done for me? Gee...let me think...of yeah...I now get to keep one BFT per boat - not per man, but per boat. Maybe two if I am lucky enough to catch one larger than 47".
Oh what joy!!! We went from 5 BFT per man in 1990 to 1 BFT per boat in 2009. I am so happy I am paying the Gov't my hard earned money for less fish to catch/keep.

Please explain to me what my $18.00 ($22.00) HMS Federal Extortion Permit that I have paying for the past 12+ years has done for us (me)????????????????????

I did not know they are going to stock fluke and blackfish with the State Funded Fish Farms...would LOVE to see those. Do you really think the money from any "saltwater license" will go to help us fishermen? Think hard...this is New Jersey.

Just in case you did not hear me the first time - New Jersey has enough money to do the mandatory registration that will be "required" for 2010. I already pay enough in taxes, tolls, fees, permits etc. NJ has the HIGHEST property taxes in the nation and probably the world. The state can set up a website for $250.00 and people can sign up that way.

No "license fee" is needed or wanted here (and 30 other fishing friends)...none, zip, zero, nada...........

If "they" want to count me - that is fine...count me...but PLEASE don't say it is OK for another extortion "license"...we all pay more than enough to cover this already.



Joe T.

[tautog]

What would I be paying for? I get 2 months of sea bassing, only get to keep tog during the worst weather part of the season and get one bluefin if I'm lucky. What will I fih for in July and August? All ling all the time, just gotta hope they aren't decimated by a huge increase in fishing pressure.

[1captainron]

Salt Water licence equalls:
An administrator who will make $150,000 a year followed by an assistant, secretary, book-keeper and so on....
More Conservation Officers at whatever salary. New Trucks, more guns.

You still won't be allowed to catch Flounder in the Spring, Sea Bass.
Fluke size won't go down and the season is going to be shorter once again!!
They say the money will go into an account for fishery only....THIS IS NEW JERSEY PEOPLE!! If you beleave that, you haven't lived here long.

What did the extra $400 bucks get me for a lousy 2 months for the opportunity to fish in NY waters?? Nothing and I already have the bill for next season!
Federal money to the State...Hell, we can't even get a grant to do any research....Maybe if we applied for bail out....now that's a thought!!!

[Leif]

This is what you get for a $41.00 anual saltwater license in California...

a shortage of game wardens and a new $5 voluntary tag to raise money for state salaries.

That's just great!


Sport fishers land some big ones
By Kristopher Hanson Staff Writer
Posted: 12/06/2009 10:25:40 PM PST


Tom Raftican runs the Sportfishing Conservancy. (Brittany Murray Staff Telegram)
LONG BEACH - It's been a productive year for Tom Raftican and his Long Beach-based nonprofit Sportfishing Conservancy.

In March, the grass-roots organization won a preliminary victory when the state's Fish and Game Commission agreed to end the requirement that fishermen wear angler licenses around their necks - ending a longtime source of frustration for recreational anglers who argued the licenses were obstructive and potentially dangerous if caught in a fishing line during a day at sea or on the lake.

And this week, the conservancy's drive to create a voluntary $5 hunting and fishing "stamp" - or decal - directly supporting California's roughly 375 game wardens is expected to be unveiled in Los Angeles, said Lorna Bernard, a Department of Fish and Game spokeswoman.

The image will be reminiscent of the original game warden badge, but authorities have not picked the final image. They expect to do so Tuesday, Bernard said.

The sticker stamp, which would be offered to the more than 2 million people who purchase hunting/fishing licenses in California each year, could generate millions annually to help pay for new warden equipment, training, support for warden dogs and to supplement a warden widows' fund.

But its overall success will depend on a willingness to kick in an extra $5 on top of the fees - which can range from $6.50 to $143 - already required by the state to hunt and fish.

For example, if 15 percent of recreational hunters and anglers purchased the stamp in 2010, $1.5 million would be raised for the fund. Officials also hope to market the stamp to environmental groups and conservationists, who support warden efforts to end poaching and preserve wildlife.
Raftican hopes to raise participation to 40 or 50 percent through an aggressive statewide "campaign of solidarity" among anglers, hunters and the wardens, whose budget has been slashed as the state reels from an ever-deepening budget crisis.

"Anglers and hunters and conservationists know these wardens and they understand the importance wardens play in overseeing preservation and protection of the state's abundant hunting and fishing areas," Raftican said. "I strongly believe they'll be inclined to chip in an extra $5 to help. I know I'm personally going to be challenging them to do as much every chance I get."

Raftican said Sportfishing Conservancy has agreed to purchase the first 200 stamps, which he will send out to 200 angling clubs throughout the state with a note encouraging them to ask their tens of thousands of members to purchase the stamp when renewing their licenses.

"If we get half of the people purchasing hunting and fishing licenses next year to peel off that extra $5, just think of the impact it could have," Raftican said. "That's about $5 million wardens badly need right now to replace equipment and support their operations. It's just an all-around good cause."

In California, sport fishing is big business, supporting more than 40,000 jobs and roughly $2 billion in sales annually for sport-fishing equipment alone, according to the Sportfishing Association of California, a trade organization.

It's the job of the state's Fish and Game wardens to oversee hunting and fishing laws on land and water, protect wildlife, investigate violations, prevent poaching and enforce environmental law, among other duties.

Wardens carry handguns, testify in court and have a jurisdiction covering some 4,800 lakes, 1,100 miles of coastline, 80 major rivers and more than 350 endangered or protected wildlife species.

But with just 200 or so officers - a level the state says has dropped to a number last seen in the 1950s - it's a taxing job made more difficult with the recent cuts.

While fishing and hunting licenses generate about $72 million annually for Fish and Game activities, including warden pay, there remains little left over for new equipment and other necessities.

"Anglers have persistently led the fight for conservation and wardens have tirelessly protected California's resources," said April Wakeman, the Sportfishing Conservancy's program director. "Great fishing depends on great resources."

Helping wildlife

What: Voluntary $5 hunting and fishing stamp/sticker, which will be offered to all sport fishermen and hunters when they apply for required licenses.

Why: To generate money for a legally protected fund from which California's roughly 200 game wardens could draw money for new equipment, training or to supplement a warden widow/families fund. Game wardens are responsible for enforcement of fishing and hunting laws, prevention of poaching and wildlife and environmental protection, among other duties.

Cost: $5

Where: The stamp will be available anytime an individual purchases a fishing or hunting license, including through the Fish and Game Web site, www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing.

Image: Unavailable, although Department of Fish and Game officials are expected to unveil the image Thursday in Los Angeles.

Current sport fishing and hunting fees: Can range from $13 for a one-day sport fishing license to $143 for a nonresident license to hunt land mammals or birds. Annual sport fishing and hunting licenses for Californians cost about $41, although those under 16 years are exempt from most fees.

On July 4 and Sept. 6, the state does not require sport fishing licenses for any person.

Web site: Sport fishing Conservancy - www.sportcon.org. California Department of Fish and Game - www.dfg.ca.gov.

562-499-1466, kristopher.hanson@presstelegram.com