This Shortchanges All Anglers

The lack of licenses for saltwater fishing shortchanges ALL anglers - it is a public resource with enforcement costs that is funded by public dollars - no part of the cost of enforcement paid for by the user group.

If you hunt, you pay for a license-

If you fresh water fish, you pay for a license-

If you are in the medical field you pay for a license - 

If you fly a plane, you pay for a license - 

Need I continue??

get the point?

Cheap license shortchanges New York anglers

New York’s recent adoption of a saltwater fishing license has long been awaited by CCA NY and other responsible anglers who believe that, just like other sportsmen, saltwater fishermen have a moral obligation to help support the management of the species that they target. However, we were concerned to learn that the license adopted would cost a mere $10, an amount that would minimize its contribution to DEC coffers (although an increased level of expected Wallop-Breaux funding remains a plus.) 

The current economic crunch, resulting in a loss of state tax revenues and a cut in spending for all state departments, had a big impact on the Department of Environmental Conservation, and in particular the Marine Bureau. The State Legislature now expects the Bureau to rely on license revenues for a significant part of its funding, despite a license that will cost barely more than half of what was originally contemplated. 

In the end, it will be the resource and the anglers who enjoy it who will suffer from the shortsightedness of license opponents, and the willingness of legislators to give in to the questionable arguments of the sportfishing industry, which somehow convinced them that an additional $9 in the annual license fee would dissuade anglers from buying the graphite rods, braided lines and high-tech reels that have become the common tools of anglers fishing in state waters. 

CCA NY will work to convince the legislature that, without a fully funded Marine Bureau, neither anglers nor the angling industry will be able to enjoy the full potential of New York’s marine resources.