An Act To Create a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License, Maine Legislative bill........... LD 1811


 

                                         May 29, 2007

Captain Satch McMahon
Electronic Mail,   

Dear Captain McMahon:

	Thank you for contacting me about saltwater recreational 
fishing licenses in Maine.  I appreciate hearing from you.

      As a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I do 
not have jurisdiction over bills before the Maine Legislature.  This 
includes L.D. 1811, legislation introduced into the Maine 
Legislature by State Rep. Leila Percy, which would institute a 
recreational saltwater registry for anglers between the ages of 16 
and 70 and a fee of $15 for Maine residents and $30 for non-
residents.  Proceeds from the license would benefit the Maine 
Department of Marine Resources and presumably would be spent 
on functions such as fisheries research and habitat enhancement.  
Saltwater recreational fishing has traditionally been free and 
available to all in Maine, and many anglers have expressed strong 
objections to the proposed registry and fees.    
      
      The question of whether or not Maine should have a 
recreational saltwater fishing license is most appropriately decided 
at the State rather than the federal level.  However, proponents of 
LD 1811 have suggested that the registry and fee are necessary 
because of a new provision in a recently reauthorized federal law, 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(MSA).  MSA does contain a provision, retained in the final bill 
from the Senate version, that requires each state that does not 
already register saltwater recreational anglers to do so by 2009, or 
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will institute its 
own registry.  However, MSA also prohibits NMFS from charging 
a fee for this registry until at least 2011.  After that date, NMFS 
has indicated that a fee is possible.  
      
      If Maine develops its own registry program before that date 
it will be exempt from any federal fee, but there is no requirement 
that Maine charge any particular fee for its program.  MSA also 
only applies to anglers fishing more than three miles offshore or 
for anadromous fish such as striped bass.  Anglers seeking winter 
flounder, bluefish, mackerel, or a variety of other non-anadromous 
fish within three miles of shore are not subject to any federal 
regulation and would not have to pay a fee under any NMFS 
registry program.
      
      Proponents of LD 1811 are correct to say that if Maine 
does not develop its own registry program, NMFS will do so 
starting in 2009.  However, MSA does not require Maine or the 
federal government to charge a fee, and MSA actually prohibits a 
federal fee until 2011.  
      
      As an avid sport fisherman myself, I share your concern 
about new fees and registries for recreational saltwater anglers.  I 
am not involved in this State issue in my capacity as an elected 
federal representative, but as a Maine citizen and fisherman I will 
be closely monitoring the actions of the State legislature on this 
matter.  
	
	Again, thank you for contacting me.  I hope you will 
continue to do so about issues that are important to you.

            



Sincerely,


Tom Allen
Member of Congress

Also included was the detailed list (the big majority), 106 of Maine's USCG Captains who contacted me and asked to be listed in opposition to LD 1811.

  The legislative work session where the final resolution of the salt water fishing license will be decided by the 13 member Marine Resource committee has now been postponed and extended to Monday May 14th. Your letters have really helped to get the committee members thinking a little more clearly about this issue. Please continue to send your e-mails and let your feelings be known. You now have until Monday May 14th to get your e-mails in and defeat LD 1811. You can have a big impact and insure that your children continue to have the same basic freedoms and rights to fish Maines waters that we always have enjoyed.


                  

 Rep.Ian Emery and Rep.Ed Mazurek "left" wait patiently for the bills co-sponsors