NEW YORK'S SALTWATER LICENSE TO BE REPEALED
User Fee Will Be Gone in 180 Days - Replaced By Free Registry

New York's saltwater fishing license is being repealed!

According to the Associated Press, New York lawmakers and the Cuomo administration have just reached an agreement to end the state's $10 annual saltwater fishing license and replace it with a free registry for the state's coastal waters.  Legislators announcing the change yesterday say it will cover two years.

The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) received a "high priority" email sent through DEC channels yesterday afternoon regarding the license repeal, noting that budget discussions between Governor Cuomo and the New York state legislature helped facilitate the repeal effort, which is said will take place in the next 180 days. 

Last Tuesday, March 15th, a Senate Budget Resolution calling for the repeal of the MTA Payroll Tax for public and private schools, as well as full repeal of the saltwater fishing license was passed in the New York Senate.  "I made clear from the beginning of the Budget process that I would not support any new taxes or fees," Sen. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) said last week.

Sen. Zeldin, a Long Island saltwater angler, last month introduced legislation in the New York Senate (S3638) which would amend the environmental conservation law in relation to establishing a registration system for saltwater recreational fishing, essentially repealing that part which mandates that a fee to fish be levied on saltwater anglers.  Under the Senate Budget Resolution passed last week, the saltwater fishing license and fee would end with the expiration of the current 2011 license. 

March 17, 2011 - Efforts to March 17, 2011 - Efforts to repeal New York's saltwater fishing license and replace it with a federally recognized free saltwater recreational fishing registry are quickly moving forward in the New York state Senate.  Introduced before the 2011-2012 session on February 28th by Sen. Lee Zeldin (R- Shirley), Senate Bill #3638 would amend the environmental conservation law in relation to establishing a registration system for saltwater recreational fishing, essentially repealing that part which mandates that a fee to fish be levied on saltwater anglers. S3638 has already cleared the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and now carries the cosponsor support of senators Greg Ball (R-Patterson), Kemp Hannon (R-Westbury), Owen Johnson (R-Babylon), Bill Larkin (R-Cornwall-on-Hudson), Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), Tom Libous (R-Binghamton), Carl Marcellino (R-Syosset) and Jack Martins (R-Mineola).  The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is hoping that S3638 moves quickly through the budgetary process and is ultimately voted successfully out of the Senate in the coming weeks, and is also helping spearhead a weekend fax campaign starting Friday morning to encourage the Assembly committee to follow the Senate lead. 

"RFA-NY members are thankful for our Senate champions in spearheading efforts to repeal this broken law, but now it's time for the real grassroots efforts to begin," said RFA Managing Director and President of the New York Sportfishing Federation, Jim Hutchinson, Jr.  "If the saltwater anglers of New York are really angry about being forced to pay for reduced service, loss of access, and fiscal mismanagement by out-of-touch bureaucrats, then they need to join together and push to promote the Assembly version of this repeal bill."

Introduced earlier this month by Assembly sponsor Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor), Assembly Bill #6169 is the companion to S3638, and just like the Senate version requires the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to administer and maintain a registry of persons who engage in saltwater recreational fishing, collecting the name, address, date of birth and telephone number of each person registered, issuing a unique user identification number. A6169 would also repeal the user fee required for anglers to have that information collected by the state, and would also provide a refund to those anglers who've already paid a lifetime fee to fish in New York coastal waters.

"Anglers and business owners who want to see this license repeal bill move need to contact Assemblyman Sweeney and urge him to have this bill discussed at the Environment Committee, it's imperative," Hutchinson said.  "The recreational fishing sector needs to step up and be heard and March 18th is the day to do so."  RFA is hoping a coordinated fax campaign beginning Friday morning can go a long way in getting the message out.  

The Assembly version of the license repeal legislation is co-sponsored by James D. Conte (R-Huntington Station), Michael J. Fitzpatrick (R-St. James), Al Graf (R-Holbrook, Dan Losquadro (R-Shoreham), Tom McKevitt (R-East Meadow), Michael Montesano (R-Glen Head), Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), Andrew P. Raia (R-East Northport), Joseph S. Saladino (R-Massapequa), Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck), and Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach).  While S3638 is nearing its way a vote before the full senate, Hutchinson said A6169 is now stuck in the Assembly Environment Committee chaired by Assembly Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst).

Not highly publicized, there is a ferry that leaves the View Restaurant on Saint Patrick's day for a few hours of celebration on Ocean Beach. Three bars were open, offering cheer and corn beef and cabbage.