Dan's Papers - April 20, 2009 - Floundering on Fishing

This summer, you're off the hook. But this fall, as of October 1, East End visitors who decide to go on a fishing excursion to either of the two forks will have an extra step to take before they can cast their lines.

Complying with a federal mandate for all coastal states to impose a new marine fishing license for recreational saltwater anglers, the budget will put the state Department of Environmental Conservation in charge of overseeing the implementation of the program in New York. License fees for New York residents will cost $10 a year, $8 for the week or $4 for one day, with a lifetime fishing license available for $150. (Originally, state government suggested $19 for residents for the year and $40 for a non-resident per year.) Also, the budget calls for the money generated from these fees - which the State estimates will be around $2.5 million - to be put toward marine regulation and conservation, rather than be included in the state's general fund. That issue has been a concern of those involved in the local fishing industry.

And charter and party boats, which already pay $250 for an annual fishing license, will see their annual fees increased to $400. But since these boats already document every fish caught by those aboard them, those who rent them out won't be required to purchase a personal license.

While some are quick to say this new recreational fishing license is just another way for the State government and Governor David A. Paterson to take more money from its residents, it actually stems from a federal mandate by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration requiring all coastal states to impose this new license in order to keep better track of catch numbers. Catch limits and other regulations are often based on skewed and inaccurate data, so it's important to create an accurate national database of what fish are being caught and where.

"The federal intentions are very good," said Michael Potts, captain of the charter boat Blue Fin IV, said. "The fishing community has been complaining for a long time that the catch statistics are poor... This could help with more fair regulations."

Carl Darenberg, owner of Montauk Marine Basin, added, "There are so many porgies, fluke and bass out there. They can say they're not out there, but trust me, there are plenty."

Some fishermen across the East End, wary of more government interference, are up in arms about the new license in terms of how it might possibly affect their business.

"I'm 100% against it," said Henry Uihlein, who owns Uihlein's Marina in Montauk. "The government has its hand in too many things. If they do this, it's just another drawback or deterrent to go fishing."

Concerned about how it will affect East End visitors who decide at the last minute that they want to surfcast off a beach or fish off a private boat, he added, "I just can't see them doing this to a tourist."

The NOAA gave states the option of implementing the program themselves or letting the federal government take it over. New York chose to take control of the program on its own in order to keep the fees associated with the license down and also to allow those fees to benefit the State rather than the federal budget.

There are some, like Potts, who would prefer that the federal government ran the program. "New York State doesn't have money and it's looking for money," he said. "The Feds have the money to do these things through ... If it had been done federally, it would have been cheaper and better run. But the State sees this as a possible money making endeavor because we're short on money."

But Potts is hopeful the State will model its program after other states that make it easy to get these licenses instantly.

"You can get on your cell phone at the last minute, you can pay with your credit card, they give you an ID number and if enforcement should check you out, you just give them your name and number. It's done within minutes."

How easy New York makes the process will determine whether or not the new license slows down recreational fishing on the East End. Potts put it this way: "We don't have too much faith in the State that this is going to go that smoothly,"