California State Raids Fishing License Fund; CalTrout Calls for Freeze on License Fees
By Tom Chandler on May 30, 2008 in News
Proving that Catch & Release is a concept that shouldn’t necessarily be applied to California’s State Legislature, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Natural Resources approved Schwarzenegger-led raid on the Hatchery and Inland Fisheries Fund (HIFF) to the tune of $4 million.
The HIFF money — raised by anglers through fishing license sales — is being transferred to the state’s battered General Fund.
CalTrout — like most of the people who have read this far — isn’t particularly happy:
"It is unfair to the two million anglers who annually buy fishing licenses in this state to continue to see their fees raised year after year by the Department of Fish and Game when it is simultaneously cutting back fish hatchery operations, wild trout protection, and programs for recovery of endangered species like salmon," said Brian Stranko, California Trout’s CEO.
"We believe it is inappropriate to divert these revenues to address chronic problems in the state’s General Fund if DFG is allowed to continue increasing the cost of a sport fishing license."
The Hatchery and Inland Fisheries Fund was created through in 2005 through Assembly Bill 7 in order to ensure that at least some of the $60 million collected annually through fishing licenses in California goes to improve fishing opportunities in the state. The law specifies that at least 30% of the monies collected through fishing licenses be dedicated to upgrading hatcheries and funding the state’s wild trout program.
See you on the warden-less, unprotected, wild-trout-free river, Tom Chandler.
The Chile Doctor | May 30, 2008 | Reply
Bad news is, you’re all being robbed by your own government. Who doesn’t follow the laws they passed!
Good news is, if you decide to fish w/o a license, who’s gonna catch you? Not the wardens they haven’t hired with all that moolah..
QD
Kentucky Jim | May 30, 2008 | Reply
Let’s hope Cal Trout can get their voice heard in Sacramento. Any ideas?
kbarton10 | May 30, 2008 | Reply
So $2 of my $35 dollar fee goes for something less desirable - making a cash-strapped agency more so.
At least Carp can fend for themselves.
Jean-Paul Lipton | May 30, 2008 | Reply
Criminal. Sounds like the typical war machine government. Should have written the state statute that all monies should have gone toward habitat and fishing improvement, instead of the minimum 30%. Of course Legislators won’t do that, so they can dip their fingers into the honey, and use it as a rainy day fund. What’s wrong that picture? So much for the fiscal conservation and prudence of the “republican” party.
Tom Chandler | May 30, 2008 | Reply
Unfortunately, the press release didn’t offer a call to action (pet peeve: advocacy groups should offer a “The Next Step” call to action in press releases like this).
Expect to read more releases like this over the coming months as California comes to grips with its painful budget shortfall — and expect parks, wildlife and other enviro departments to get the short, stained end of the stick.