Saltwater Registration Coming

[hattrickll]

Dear NACO Member,
Registry for recreational anglers is one year away. Press release below.
Happy Holidays
National Association of Charterboat Operators
Contact: Monica Allen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

301-713-2370 Dec. 23, 2008

Monica.allen@noaa.gov

NOAA to Create Saltwater Angler Registry in 2010

Final rule gives states more time to implement local data gathering

NOAA's Fisheries Service released its final rule today to create a national saltwater angler registry of all marine recreational fishermen to help the nation better protect our shared marine resources. A requirement to establish a registry was included in a statute approved by Congress in 2007.

"Better national surveys of the more than 15 million saltwater anglers will help us demonstrate the important contributions of recreational anglers to both local economies and to the nation's," said Jim Balsiger, NOAA acting assistant administrator for NOAA's Fisheries Service. "The registry will help us gather comprehensive data to ensure sustainable fisheries built on the best available science."

The improved quality of recreational fishing data achieved through a national saltwater angler registry will help demonstrate the economic value of saltwater recreational fishing, and will provide a more complete picture of how recreational fishing is affecting fish stocks. This kind of information is essential to NOAA's goal to end overfishing as required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. All recreational anglers who fish in federal waters will be required to participate, with some exemptions for those already registered in their states.

The registry is the product of a major recommendation to NOAA in a 2006 independent scientific review by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. The NRC found that NOAA needed a comprehensive list of everyone who fishes recreationally in marine waters to improve surveys of saltwater anglers used to help manage and rebuild fish stocks. The NRC recommendation became law in 2007 with the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary federal law that enables NOAA to manage ocean fish stocks.

The final rule requires anglers and spearfishers who fish recreationally in federal ocean waters to be included in the national saltwater angler registry by Jan. 1, 2010.

Beginning January 2009, NOAA will exempt anglers from the federal registration rule if they are licensed in states that have a system to provide complete information on their saltwater anglers to the national registry.

"NOAA wants to work closely with the states and anglers to better capture the contributions and effects of sportfishing," said Balsiger. "We expect that this additional year will allow a number of states to put in place systems to register their anglers annually and provide this information to NOAA."

NOAA had originally proposed that registration be required beginning Jan. 1, 2009, but based on public input decided to give states another year to put in place their own data collection systems.


If anglers are not licensed or registered by a state that has been exempted and want to fish in federal waters, they will be required to register with NOAA. They must also register if they fish in tidal waters for migratory fish such as striped bass and salmon that spawn in rivers and spend their adult lives in estuaries and oceans. However, those who fish recreationally for these migratory species inland of tidal waters need not register, according to the final rule.

Federal saltwater angler registrations will include an angler's name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and the regions where they intend to fish. This information will be used by NOAA to conduct surveys on fishing effort and amounts of fish caught. Once anglers have registered, they may fish anywhere in U.S. federal waters, or in tidal waters for anadromous species, regardless of the region or regions they specified in their registration. The registration will be valid for one year from its date of issue. Anglers must comply with applicable state licensing requirements when fishing in state waters.

Saltwater anglers will be able to register online or by calling a toll-free telephone number that will be publicized, and will receive a registration certificate. Anglers will need to carry this certificate (or their state license from an exempt state) and produce it to an authorized enforcement officer if requested. No fee will be charged in 2010. An estimated fee of $15 to $25 per angler will be charged starting in 2011.

Anglers who fish only on licensed party, charter, or guide boats would not be required to register with NOAA since these vessels are surveyed separately from angler surveys. Those who hold angler permits to fish for highly migratory species, such as tunas or swordfish, and those fishing under commercial fishing licenses will also be exempt. Anglers registered or permitted to fish in a formal state or federal subsistence fishery will also be exempt, as will anglers under 16.

NOAA received nearly 500 comments from anglers, state officials, and fishing and environmental organizations on its proposed national registry rule during the comment period from June 12 until Aug. 21. The registry is one component of the agency's new Marine Recreational Information Program, an initiative to enhance data collection on recreational catch and effort.

To read the final registry rule and other information about the Marine Recreational Information Program, go to: http://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.

On the Web: NOAA's Fisheries Service: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov

[Sea Draggin]

WHOA!!! This looks interesting. We need Glenn to translate into Redneck.


.

[reel fool]

Let me translate:

NOAA: "Here's a free permit to fish offshore. It's a new Saltwater Angler Registration card. Don't worry, it's free. Nothing changes. We just want to measure your worth to the fishery."

Naive angler: "OK. Thanks for caring"

1 yr passes

NOAA: "Hey Naive One, that permit we gave you cost the taxpayer way too much $$ for this essential program. So, it's gonna cost you $18 per year. But, hey, we are allowing you to continue to catch fish in our ocean, so it's a bargain. And by the way, you caught too many fish last year, so we are reducing your quota............again. Have a nice day."

Naive Angler: "Sorry about slaying too many fish. and thanks for allowing me to fish in your pond."

another year later

NOAA: "Dear Naive Anglers--you have continued to rape the oceans, overharvesting the plenty of the seas, and pushed too many species to the point of being overfished. And your stupid registration program is still WAY too expensive to the taxpayer, so your permit is now $40 per year. Oh yeah, you can't target marlin with that one neither. There's a new marlin stamp you will need on your Saltwater Angler Registration card to do that. So, if you are going to enter any tournaments, you will need one. Why did you ever want to start this cumbersome program in the first place?"

Naive Angler: "You are too kind. Thanks for all your help. By the way, when are we going to begin to see some results of all the data you are collecting about the HUGE contribution we make to the economy?"

another year goes by

NOAA: "Dear raping & pillaging anlger, you are no longer allowed to fish in saltwater. You failed to file a fishing report 1 week last calendar year and have therefore forfeited your Saltwater Angler Registration card indefinitely, as no new Saltwater Angler Registration cards will be issued this year. There are currently no plans to issue any new Saltwater Angler Registration cards in the future."

Think it can't happen, remember what happened when they introduced the "free" tuna permit. Read this story b4.

[gottaflylee]

Here we go with more flawed Data...
Right now in NC, we have for hire permites for charter boats; goes to the boat, not the person running the boat. I run 3 diffrent boats from 50' to 21'. they call me and ask if I ran a charter on a certin boat, not what I actually caught for the week...
Oh ya, it started off as a free permit and now we pay for it... As I said, more FLAWED DATA...

[Sterling]

This reads like it will cover all tidal waters. I've got to believe the states like FL and DE will be fighting to keep the money they are currently taxing out of fishermen.

Looks like they've already started planning on the fees. The angler thing sucks. How often do you have a friend or relative who you want to take out fishing just for a day. Hopefully they have a boat option.

No fee will be charged in 2010. An estimated fee of $15 to $25 per angler will be charged starting in 2011.

[OUTCAST1]

The registry is the product of a major recommendation to NOAA in a 2006 independent scientific review by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. The NRC found that NOAA needed a comprehensive list of everyone who fishes recreationally in marine waters to improve surveys of saltwater anglers used to help manage and rebuild fish stocks. The NRC recommendation became law in 2007 with the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary federal law that enables NOAA to manage ocean fish stocks.

BULLSHIP!

The multitude and magnitude of "fisheries management" failures have almost nothing to do with the absence of a comprehensive Federal registry.

It has far more to to with the inefficiency, waste, fraud, political corruption, and incompetence that are the hallmarks of most federal agencies.

NOAA has degenerated from the scientific program it was designed as, into just one more bloated federal agency. Like all federal agencies, their instinctive and reflexive response to any and all criticism is "We need a larger budget!"

When the Federal registry was conceived, recommended, and designed, it was just that-a NO COST registry. It was supposed to be just a SLIGHT improvement in the accuracy of the estimates now used. The MARGINAL INACCURACY of using estimates of highly visible recreational fishermen is just NOT the basis or cause of "fisheries management" failures. There are many ways to improve the accuracy of the estimates now used-BUT THEY DON'T PRODUCE REVENUES!

[Big Fish Billy]

I doubt it will have anything to do with fishery counts, it will simply be a $35 fishing license for salt water the same as it is for fresh. Watch for signs of it in Mass., they are usually the first to tax the daylights out of us......

[fishskipper]

This gripes my ass!!! More red tape for NOTHING... We fought the NC license a few years ago... with the majority rec fisherman down south wanting it, saying that they needed the data and if the state didn't have a license the feds would....Now they are buying more land for more boat ramps down south with that state money..That will really help consevation of fish.. when we could really use more fish habitat in this area... We really should not stand for this Federal Registry.... theres plenty of data on the state level...If they are concerned enough to get it...MAN .... I've got to renew my capt. license this year..My for hire permit, my operators card, my tuna permit, my reef permit, my wahoo/dolphin permit, documentation,my commercial permit, my business license and a friggin TWIC's card.... And now you tell me I got to have a Fed fish registry.........I GIVE UP........ I'm going out of business and moving out of the country

[JD5652]

Now here's a man that knows exactly how the US government works....reel fool for President 2012.....

Let me translate:

NOAA: "Here's a free permit to fish offshore. It's a new Saltwater Angler Registration card. Don't worry, it's free. Nothing changes. We just want to measure your worth to the fishery."

Naive angler: "OK. Thanks for caring"

1 yr passes

NOAA: "Hey Naive One, that permit we gave you cost the taxpayer way too much $$ for this essential program. So, it's gonna cost you $18 per year. But, hey, we are allowing you to continue to catch fish in our ocean, so it's a bargain. And by the way, you caught too many fish last year, so we are reducing your quota............again. Have a nice day."

Naive Angler: "Sorry about slaying too many fish. and thanks for allowing me to fish in your pond."

another year later

NOAA: "Dear Naive Anglers--you have continued to rape the oceans, overharvesting the plenty of the seas, and pushed too many species to the point of being overfished. And your stupid registration program is still WAY too expensive to the taxpayer, so your permit is now $40 per year. Oh yeah, you can't target marlin with that one neither. There's a new marlin stamp you will need on your Saltwater Angler Registration card to do that. So, if you are going to enter any tournaments, you will need one. Why did you ever want to start this cumbersome program in the first place?"

Naive Angler: "You are too kind. Thanks for all your help. By the way, when are we going to begin to see some results of all the data you are collecting about the HUGE contribution we make to the economy?"

another year goes by

NOAA: "Dear raping & pillaging anlger, you are no longer allowed to fish in saltwater. You failed to file a fishing report 1 week last calendar year and have therefore forfeited your Saltwater Angler Registration card indefinitely, as no new Saltwater Angler Registration cards will be issued this year. There are currently no plans to issue any new Saltwater Angler Registration cards in the future."

Think it can't happen, remember what happened when they introduced the "free" tuna permit. Read this story b4.

[Robja]

More money to pay out just to do something you enjoy. I already have to pay for a NC saltwater license and now I am going to have to get a federal one. its a bunch of crap