| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal Angler Registration is a Load of Crap |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory Morris, 12/10/08 8:39:41 pm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And a lot of anglers seem to support it.
I don't get it. Most of the highly regulated commercial species are not the same ones targeted by land-based saltwater anglers, although there is some overlap. I'm still not convinced that land-based anglers affect commercial stocks in any meaningful way.
Regardless, people seem to be ready to sacrifice yet another state function to increased federal regulations without good reason. I'm sick of it. I don't want to be a "federally registered angler". I don't want to be a federally registered ANYTHING!
In addition, there are a lot of people in this state who do supplement their nutritional intake via fishing rod. A licensing requirement would simply be an addition tax on a lot of people who have a hard enough time getting by as is. Others who fish purely for recreation might choose to stop fishing altogether, which will undoubtedly cause a decrease in tackle sales, and the attached tax revenue.
The FWC surely thinks this is a good way to increase their immediate income. They may be right. Still, I can't imagine how they expect to field the additional officers that would be needed to enforce the new requirements! If they actually intend to do that, it'll cost more than the additional licensing income provides. What's worse, the biggest reason the FWC seems to be leaning towards this change is to get more federal money. I'm all for Florida getting its "fair share", but consider every time you cede a bit of regulation or power to the feds, you can never get it back. Indeed, if history is any indicator, giving the federal government a little more power results in their gaining a lot more power. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | [Comments are closed after a month.] |
|
|
|
| < "Something I Didn't Know" | | "About That Sky" > |
|
|
|
|
