Post by diggin4grouper on May 15, 2009 7:44:09 GMT -5
the dates in the artile are wrong but if you read the bill its july 1st
www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Mode=Bills&ElementID=JumpToBox&SubMenu=1&Year=2009&billnum=1742
Anglers gear for boatload of fees
Proposed shoreline license won't affect most pier fishermen
May 15, 2009
Those who spend time outdoors could be paying more for the privilege if Gov. Charlie Crist signs some bills that would increase a number of fees and create some new ones.
Senate Bill 1742 would repeal the saltwater shoreline exemption and require Florida residents to purchase a $7.50 shoreline license to fish from beaches, bridges, seawalls, docks and jettys. Currently, Florida residents can fish in saltwater from land and structures fixed to land for free.
Non-residents will still have to purchase a non-resident saltwater fishing license, which is $17 for three days and $47 for a year, to fish from shore.
The shoreline license is not needed by those who have a resident saltwater fishing license, which costs $17 and is needed to fish from recreational boats.
Those who fish from licensed fishing piers won't need the shoreline license, nor will children under 16; Florida residents 65 and older; qualified Florida residents with disabilities; Florida residents on food stamps, temporary cash assistance or Medicaid who have their benefit card and proof of identity; and Florida residents in the military who are home on leave for 30 days or less.
The new license, if Crist approves it, takes effect Aug. 1. The license would go on sale July 15.
Some of the state's estimated 210,000-338,000 shore anglers who would have to buy the new license aren't happy about the potential new fee, but it will actually save them money.
Without the new license, they would be required to buy what amounts to a federal license to fish in saltwater. Anglers in states that have a saltwater license that covers everyone don't need the federal license.
As things now stand, Florida anglers would have to pay the federal fee. With the shoreline license, Florida anglers would be exempt from the federal fee, which would be $15 to $25 and take effect in 2011.
In House Bill 1423, the Legislature upped the cost of several permits, more commonly known as stamps.
The state duck stamp would increase from $3 to $5. The turkey stamp would go from $5 to $10 for residents and from $100 to $125 for non-residents. The bill also creates a new deer permit that costs $5 a year.
For the first time since they were established 20 years ago, the cost of snook and lobster stamps would increase. The snook stamp would be $10 (up from $2) and the lobster stamp would go from $2 to $5.
Wildlife management area stamps, which are required to hunt on public lands managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, would go from $25 to $30. In addition, a WMA permit costing $5 a day or $30 a year would be created for those who hike and camp, among other activities, on management areas.
These fees would all take effect July 1. The FWC would be allowed to use up to 10 percent of the proceeds of the permits to promote hunting and sport fishing, with an emphasis on youth participation.
In the case of the duck stamp, the money also would be used "for conservation, research and management of waterfowl [and] for the development, restoration, maintenance and preservation of wetlands within the state." Turkey stamp money would also be used for "the conservation, research, and management of wild turkeys." Likewise, deer stamp money would "be used for the conservation, research and management of white-tailed deer."
Snook stamp money "shall be used exclusively for programs to benefit the snook population" and lobster stamp money "shall be used exclusively for programs to benefit the spiny lobster population."
Steve Waters can be reached at 954-356-4648 or swaters@SunSentinel.com
www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Mode=Bills&ElementID=JumpToBox&SubMenu=1&Year=2009&billnum=1742
Anglers gear for boatload of fees
Proposed shoreline license won't affect most pier fishermen
May 15, 2009
Those who spend time outdoors could be paying more for the privilege if Gov. Charlie Crist signs some bills that would increase a number of fees and create some new ones.
Senate Bill 1742 would repeal the saltwater shoreline exemption and require Florida residents to purchase a $7.50 shoreline license to fish from beaches, bridges, seawalls, docks and jettys. Currently, Florida residents can fish in saltwater from land and structures fixed to land for free.
Non-residents will still have to purchase a non-resident saltwater fishing license, which is $17 for three days and $47 for a year, to fish from shore.
The shoreline license is not needed by those who have a resident saltwater fishing license, which costs $17 and is needed to fish from recreational boats.
Those who fish from licensed fishing piers won't need the shoreline license, nor will children under 16; Florida residents 65 and older; qualified Florida residents with disabilities; Florida residents on food stamps, temporary cash assistance or Medicaid who have their benefit card and proof of identity; and Florida residents in the military who are home on leave for 30 days or less.
The new license, if Crist approves it, takes effect Aug. 1. The license would go on sale July 15.
Some of the state's estimated 210,000-338,000 shore anglers who would have to buy the new license aren't happy about the potential new fee, but it will actually save them money.
Without the new license, they would be required to buy what amounts to a federal license to fish in saltwater. Anglers in states that have a saltwater license that covers everyone don't need the federal license.
As things now stand, Florida anglers would have to pay the federal fee. With the shoreline license, Florida anglers would be exempt from the federal fee, which would be $15 to $25 and take effect in 2011.
In House Bill 1423, the Legislature upped the cost of several permits, more commonly known as stamps.
The state duck stamp would increase from $3 to $5. The turkey stamp would go from $5 to $10 for residents and from $100 to $125 for non-residents. The bill also creates a new deer permit that costs $5 a year.
For the first time since they were established 20 years ago, the cost of snook and lobster stamps would increase. The snook stamp would be $10 (up from $2) and the lobster stamp would go from $2 to $5.
Wildlife management area stamps, which are required to hunt on public lands managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, would go from $25 to $30. In addition, a WMA permit costing $5 a day or $30 a year would be created for those who hike and camp, among other activities, on management areas.
These fees would all take effect July 1. The FWC would be allowed to use up to 10 percent of the proceeds of the permits to promote hunting and sport fishing, with an emphasis on youth participation.
In the case of the duck stamp, the money also would be used "for conservation, research and management of waterfowl [and] for the development, restoration, maintenance and preservation of wetlands within the state." Turkey stamp money would also be used for "the conservation, research, and management of wild turkeys." Likewise, deer stamp money would "be used for the conservation, research and management of white-tailed deer."
Snook stamp money "shall be used exclusively for programs to benefit the snook population" and lobster stamp money "shall be used exclusively for programs to benefit the spiny lobster population."
Steve Waters can be reached at 954-356-4648 or swaters@SunSentinel.com
