Joe,
After buying my fishing license this year and reading a few articles you had about the NOAA registration I decided to write O'Malley's office about the cost of fishing and the added requirements. This is the return email I received from one, Joe Evans. If there were no proposal for charging in 2011 and beyond, than why does it specifically say on all press releases there will be no fee for 2010?
It is $15 per person for tidal fishing license that does not include non-tidal (which is a large part of fishing!), crab stamp, or trout stamp all of which are needed for true recreational fishers because we explore all water ways! So tell me, is he trying to pass one over or is he truly ignorant to plain English? Fishing is literally the only activity my family partakes in because it gets us out of the house and allows us to spend quality time together; I follow the regulations and proposed regulations closely!
A quick browse of the website: https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/faq_registry.html#9 in the frequently asked questions section states in #'s 8, 9, and 10 clearly state there WILL be a fee for 2011 which will be between $15-$25. However, Mr. Evans claims there will be no fee as can be seen in his response.
9. How much will registration cost in 2011?
The fee for registering in 2011 has not been established yet, but NOAA estimates it will cost between $15 and $25.
10. How will the fee be determined?
According to Federal law, the registration fee will be calculated based on the cost to administer the program. That means that NOAA will look at the total amount of money it takes to run the registry, and divide that by the anticipated number of people registering. In other words, if the program costs $25,000 to operate and 1,000 people were registering, the fee would be $25 per angler.
The response I was sent follows.
I’m responding to your March 10, 2010 note to Governor O’Malley concerning fishing license fees and the new NOAA National Saltwater Angler Registry. I have been unable to reach you by phone. Please forgive this written response.
First of all, I note in your letter that you paid $85 for Maryland fishing licenses for yourself and your husband. The cost should have been $15 each for a total of $30. If you purchased a Consolidated Bay Sport Boat License, the fee should have been $50 for the boat, which includes a complimentary tidal fishing license for the boat owner.
Please let me know where you bought your licenses so I can follow up to ensure that the agent is not overcharging.
Concerning the new Federal law requiring all anglers who fish in tidal waters in U.S. waters to join NOAA’s new Saltwater Angler Registry, please know that the process is free of charge, and it will continue to be free of charge in future years.
Next year when you buy your Maryland Tidal Sport Fishing License, your registration with NOAA will be automatic. This year, Maryland needed to enact legislation to make some changes to our licensing system in order to comply with NOAA information requirements. With the Governor’s help, this has been accomplished.
I am attaching some additional information to this letter, which I hope will answer other questions that you may have.
Please feel free to call me directly with further questions and thoughts.
We appreciate the feedback and wish you the best of luck in your fishing for years to come.
Cordially,
Joe Evans
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Service
(410) 260-8307
sounds like mr evens has no idea what a license costs in md. anyone that fishes knows all of the different stamps/licenses required.
ReplyDeletealos just as an fyi, you currently do not need one in the coastal bays. people are fighting against this because they dont want the tourists to have to pay
$25.00 to fish in ponds is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI think they believe most people will view it as I wont even get registered and then they can clean up on the fines they hand out.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with this is that it cannot be enforced. You are supposed to call your catch in or register it online. This a a federal regulation so I don't think the state DNR will even worry about it. This is just another waste of government resources. I can tell you after a long day on the water and cleaning fish that last thing on my mind is calling in my catch to the Feds.
ReplyDeleteA fishing license period is ridiculous ! Vote out any government pig who votes in favor !
ReplyDeleteTed I dont think you have to register the indiviual fish, just yourself. Correct me if Im wrong but I saw no-where that allowed you a place to actually register each fish caught.
ReplyDeleteThere is no requirement to call in your catch, and even if there was, there is NO WAY to enforce it! This is just another government agency setting up yet another agency to employ more gov't people to sit around and answer a phone that won't ring.
ReplyDeleteWasting yoe more of our money!
BTW, Bay Sport, $15.00
Non tidal, 20.50.
Total $35.50, x2 for Mom and Pop; add for anyone else in the family over 15.
Oh, you want to catch a few crabs, too?
Cha-ching x each person.
you have to buy a tag for a trailer, sticker for the boat, flares dated for 3 years, gas to pull, dock fee. Now well buy the fishing license now Noaa! STOP FISHING! Same with hunting.
ReplyDeleteI think its a shame you have to pay for a stamp just to go dipping for a few crabs off the dock with chicken necks....
ReplyDelete