scotty80
06-01-2006, 09:25 PM
From, http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/tidalfish/tidalfishmotions041306.html
Old Business:
Recreational Crab Licenses:
Mrs. Hunt came back to the Commission with information she was asked to provide about the possibility of changing the license fees for Recreational Crabbing Licenses. She told the Commissioners that the Department could change the nonresident fees, but not significantly. The Equal Protection Clause prevents any agency from charging an out-of-state licensee more than the cost of the administrative burden for issuing a nonresident license. In other words, the increase could not be unfair or unreasonable. The Department cannot change the price of the $40 pleasure boat license, which includes a crabbing license, because it is set in law. The decal is the same price for both residents and non-residents. But, the Department can remove the crabbing license as part of the decal by regulation.
George Luongo, representing the Working Watermen of Anne Arundel County, expressed concern that recreational licenses are growing, but commercial licenses are limited. He feels that this growing number of recreational crabbers is directly impacting his catch. Mr. Luongo felt that raising the fee is not a solution; only a cap on the number of recreational licenses will get the desired result. His association is suggesting a cap on the number of recreational licenses sold. If a cap is not possible, then they suggest a reduction in the recreational catch gear allowed. Mr. Luongo proposed that the current allowance of 1200 feet of trot line be reduced to 300 feet. Commissioner Simns did not think that 300 feet would ever be acceptable to recreational crabbers and suggested a reduction to 600 feet. He and other commercial watermen present felt that no reporting requirement for recreational crabbers is also a problem. They felt that data is important and the Department should have a harvest information program for recreational crabbers. Recreational catch information is needed for accurate harvest numbers. Howard King, Director of the Fisheries Service, said there seems to be an allocation problem between the commercial and the recreational crabbers, and if the problem is carefully identified, there may be some solution. He asked if the time restrictions were working; the watermen all felt that it is not.
Commissioner Larry Simns made a motion that the TFAC set up a work group to explore the possible changes that can be made to the recreational crab licenses and how to go about making the necessary changes. A suggestion was made to also get other stakeholders (i.e., the South River Association, CBF, etc.) to serve on the workgroup.
Commissioner Andrea Jacquette seconded.
The motion passed unanimously.
I'm always amazed that watermen feel they have the golden key to the Bay's resources.
Old Business:
Recreational Crab Licenses:
Mrs. Hunt came back to the Commission with information she was asked to provide about the possibility of changing the license fees for Recreational Crabbing Licenses. She told the Commissioners that the Department could change the nonresident fees, but not significantly. The Equal Protection Clause prevents any agency from charging an out-of-state licensee more than the cost of the administrative burden for issuing a nonresident license. In other words, the increase could not be unfair or unreasonable. The Department cannot change the price of the $40 pleasure boat license, which includes a crabbing license, because it is set in law. The decal is the same price for both residents and non-residents. But, the Department can remove the crabbing license as part of the decal by regulation.
George Luongo, representing the Working Watermen of Anne Arundel County, expressed concern that recreational licenses are growing, but commercial licenses are limited. He feels that this growing number of recreational crabbers is directly impacting his catch. Mr. Luongo felt that raising the fee is not a solution; only a cap on the number of recreational licenses will get the desired result. His association is suggesting a cap on the number of recreational licenses sold. If a cap is not possible, then they suggest a reduction in the recreational catch gear allowed. Mr. Luongo proposed that the current allowance of 1200 feet of trot line be reduced to 300 feet. Commissioner Simns did not think that 300 feet would ever be acceptable to recreational crabbers and suggested a reduction to 600 feet. He and other commercial watermen present felt that no reporting requirement for recreational crabbers is also a problem. They felt that data is important and the Department should have a harvest information program for recreational crabbers. Recreational catch information is needed for accurate harvest numbers. Howard King, Director of the Fisheries Service, said there seems to be an allocation problem between the commercial and the recreational crabbers, and if the problem is carefully identified, there may be some solution. He asked if the time restrictions were working; the watermen all felt that it is not.
Commissioner Larry Simns made a motion that the TFAC set up a work group to explore the possible changes that can be made to the recreational crab licenses and how to go about making the necessary changes. A suggestion was made to also get other stakeholders (i.e., the South River Association, CBF, etc.) to serve on the workgroup.
Commissioner Andrea Jacquette seconded.
The motion passed unanimously.
I'm always amazed that watermen feel they have the golden key to the Bay's resources.