Recreational Fishing and Licenses--Why and what for?

by Bob Wattendorf

Rules & Regulations : Freshwater Fishing Regulations : License Fees Why and What For?

Fishing has provided recreation for at least 3,000 years going back to a time when Pharaohs enjoyed the sport for recreation and the challenge--not just food. Anglers still tell researchers the major reasons they fish are: to relax and to get away from everyday stresses; to spend time with family and friends; and to enjoy the outdoors. Reasons such as to be challenged, to catch a limit of fish or to try to catch a trophy are typically secondary reasons. In other more eloquent words, Henry David Thoreau said: “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.”

Something else that many anglers don’t know is the why and what for of fishing licenses; so we’ll address that issue in this article. In North America, Thaddeus Norris in his 1864 publication, The American Angler’s Book, was among the first to specifically refer to the need for conservation. Even then it was obvious that without careful management and stewardship our fisheries resources could not withstand the changes in habitat and various forms of fishing pressure--both commercial and recreational. Consequently, the public started calling for government management of these shared resources and turned to fishing licenses to pay for scientific management and enforcement.
In Florida counties independently collected their own fishing license fees until 1925 when the State Department of Game and Fresh Water Fish sold the first statewide fishing licenses to support conservation. The prices were $2 for out-of-county residents, free for county residents, and $5 for out-of-state anglers. Back then $2 could buy what $23 buys today. As of October 2008, the $15.50 fee resident anglers pay for a fishing license remains below the national average cost for a fishing license. Their license enables anglers to fish as often as they want (on average about 17 trips per year), for as long as they want, to harvest their own meal (in many cases) and to help ensure the safe, sustainable future of their sport. In comparison, the average court fee for playing tennis in 2006 was $16-$20 (nonpeak; RacquetSportsIndustry.com) and a membership typically cost $768 per year. A round of golf costs $45-64 per game, which lasts about 4 hours whereas bowling costs about $3.50 per game and lasts 20 minutes. So by most any standards, fishing is still an outstanding recreational value. It is made all the more worthwhile because your purchase of a license is an investment in the safe and sustainable future of a lifetime recreation that is an American tradition connecting us back to our roots and to nature. Maybe that helps explain why recreational fishing is enjoyed by more Americans than play both golf and tennis combined.

Florida remains the “Fishing Capital of the World,” with more anglers than any other state--2.8 million, of whom 1.4 million fish in freshwater(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 2006). Anglers enjoyed 46.3 million days of recreational fishing in Florida in 2006 (the second highest state was Texas with 41.1 million days), and 24.5 million of the days spent fishing in Florida were in fresh water (vs. 23.1 million in salt water. The recreational fishing impact to Florida’s economy in 2006 was $7.5 billion (the second highest state was California with $4.8 billion). In addition, Florida is the number one fishing destination for tourists with 885,000 anglers visiting and spending over $1 billion (No. 2 was Wisconsin with 381,000 anglers spending $0.6 billion). To almost all of us though, it isn’t the numbers or dollars that matter, it is the quality of life and living that is associated with recreational activities and living in a healthy environment that is most important.

To conserve our natural aquatic resources for their own well being and for the pleasure of our citizens and tourists, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) uses the best scientific management possible. To fund those efforts, the Legislature sets fishing license fees and exemptions, as well as penalties for violating fish and wildlife conservation laws. A state law guarantees all money from sale of fishing licenses goes to the FWC to help fulfill its mission of “Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.”
Moreover, in 1950, congressmen Dingell and Johnson, at the request of anglers and the industry, created the original Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) program wherein fishing tackle was assessed an excise fee and the monies returned to the states for fish restoration projects. The “Wallop-Breaux” amendment in 1984 expanded the act by adding import duties on sport fishing equipment, pleasure boats and yachts as well as tax revenue from motorboat fuel sales. As a result, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reimburses states using these funds at the rate of $3 for every $4 spent on qualifying projects. The result is one of the most successful “user-pays, user-benefits” programs in the world, with taxes from sale of outdoor recreation supplies directly enhancing and promoting the resource.

The amount of money Florida receives from SFR is based on the size of the state and the number of paid licensed anglers--not licenses and permits, but the people who hold them. As an example, an angler having a freshwater license, a saltwater license, and a snook permit counts only once. Since Florida does not charge license fees for youths under 16, adults over 65, or resident saltwater anglers fishing from shore, Florida recovers a somewhat smaller proportion of these funds than other states do. This is becoming an increasing problem as other states adjust their license structures to maximize the number of paid license holders they certify for federal aid and thus recover a greater proportion of the excise taxes on tackle and motor boat fuel taxes paid by our anglers. Each certified holder generates approximately $7 more for sport fish restoration providing $13 million for Florida in 2008. Of those monies 15 percent went to boating access--building and repairing ramps and courtesy docks. The remainder went to fresh and saltwater fisheries conservation projects such as habitat restoration, fish stocking, conservation law enforcement, artificial reefs construction, and youth fishing clinics.

Consequently, the FWC encourages all anglers to buy a license (MyFWC.com/License). Even if you are legally exempt, you can contribute to the future of our fisheries resources and the health of our habitat by buying a license and helping us obtain the matching $7 contribution from the federal SFR program.

Recreational fishing often is portrayed in advertising because it is an enjoyable, wholesome experience that reflects a happy and healthy lifestyle. The FWC is working hard to ensure safe and sustainable recreational fishing for all of our citizens and guests and depends on your license fees to make sure there are fish for tomorrow.