saltwater fishing license for conn.

[tomc]

Requiring a license to fish the Sound
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by News Channel 8's Chris Velardi
Posted Feb. 21, 2007
8:17 PM
(Madison-WTNH) _ It's become a real concern for fisherman. The state is angling to make licenses a requirement for salt water fishing. That means anyone casting a line in Long Island Sound would be affected.
Greg Dworak fishes long island sound for fun and for food. Dworak's been salt-water fishing since he was a kid, and one of the thing's he likes about it is it's free. You don't need a license in Connecticut.
"If you fish fresh water, you go after the trout. Granted, the state raises 'em, stocks 'em -- it takes time, it takes money -- but the ocean, who invested in that? No one," Dworak said.
But that may change. State lawmakers are considering a proposal to require licenses for people who fish the sound to help track meet federal requirements to track what's caught. And Greg isn't happy about it.
"Something smells really bad here and it smells worse than rotting fish on a hot deck," Dworak said.
Not everyone feels as Greg does. The owner of Captain Morgan's Bait & Tackle in Madison says people who fish the sound will benefit from paying a licensing fee.
"The alternative is work with the federal government with a national registry, pay the national government, and bypass the State of Connecticut, which would be disaster," 'Captain Morgan' said.
That's because Captain Morgan believes a saltwater license is inevitable. He says at least if the program is run by the state anglers can be sure the fees will help protect Connecticut programs and fisheries.
"Most of the people that come in that aren't familiar with it. Once they're educated about it they're in favor of it."
But not Greg Dworak, who's arguments aren't about money, but principal.
"It's God's water, God's water. It has nothing to do with the state nothing to do with the federal government," he said.
14 of the nation's 23 coastal states require people to get salt-water fishing licenses. The nine that do not are all in the Northeast.
The state legislature is expected to vote on the proposal later this year.[/size][/#000000]
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[gdn443]

I heard about this today on the radio. I can't say I agree with the bait shop owner as the state has messed up all the money we pay them as it is. I don't think they will stock Long Island sound with our fees. But we knew it would come to this sooner than later.
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[tomc]

here is the proposed fee structure



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[gdn443]

To go up $2.00 for a combination isn't bad. I thought they would sock the whole $15.00 on top of every thing else. But I still think the money will be lost and not used correctly for fishermen.
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[tomc]

[font "Arial"]Raised Bill No. 7124
[/font][font "Arial"]Contains Saltwater License[/font][font "Arial"]
[/font][url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/TOB/H/2007HB-07124-R00-HB.htm"][#3300cc]http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/TOB/H/200...124-R00-HB.htm[/#3300cc][/url]


To contact your representatives here's a link

[size 4]House and Senate by Town List:[/size]

[url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/maps/townlist.asp"][#3333ff]http://www.cga.ct.gov/maps/townlist.asp[/#3333ff][/url]

Let them know how you want them to vote!
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[tomc]

Environment Committee

PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA

Friday, March 9, 2007

10:15 AM in Room 2E of the LOB

I. CONVENE HEARING

II. REMARKS BY THE CHAIRS

III. COMMITTEE BILLS FOR REVIEW

1. S.B. No. 1356 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONNECTICUT MILK COMMISSION.

2. S.B. No. 1257 (RAISED) AN ACT ESTABLISHING A MILK HANDLER FEE SYSTEM.

3. H.B. No. 7297 (RAISED) AN ACT ENHANCING CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURE.

4. S.B. No. 1370 (RAISED) AN ACT CREATING A DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MUNICIPAL FIRE ISSUES AND GOVERNMENT FIRE EQUIPMENT SURPLUS PROGRAM FACILITATOR POSITION.

5. S.B. No. 1146 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING HUMANE EDUCATION.

6. H.B. No. 7194 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE EXPANSION OF THE ANIMAL POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAM.

7. S.B. No. 1091 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING DAM SAFETY.

8. H.B. No. 7184 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING BOATING SAFETY.

9. H.B. No. 7123 (RAISED) AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CONNECTICUT ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS RECYCLING AUTHORITY.

10. H.B. No. 7125 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS, DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS, INLAND WETLANDS AGENCIES, AQUACULTURE STRUCTURES AND SAND REMOVAL.

11. S.B. No. 1154 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONTROL AND SECURITY OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL.

12. S.B. No. 1223 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE REQUESTING OF INFORMATION, THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STATUTES AND PROHIBITING MOTOR VEHICLE IDLING.

13. H.B. No. 7048 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION POLICE OFFICERS.

14. S.B. No. 1224 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING LICENSED ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS.

15. H.B. No. 7124 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING NATURAL RESOURCE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

16. H.B. No. 7121 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE AQUIFER PROTECTION AREA PROGRAM.

17. H.B. No. 7050 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING FISHERS.

18. H.B. No. 7018 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING IDENTIFICATION OF HARVESTED SHELLFISH.

19. S.B. No. 1080 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE IMPOUNDMENT OF ROAMING LIVESTOCK AND FLIGHTLESS BIRDS.

20. H.B. No. 7019 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION OF ANIMAL SHELTERS.

21. S.B. No. 1079 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING DOGS THAT ATTACK DOMESTIC ANIMALS OR LIVESTOCK.

22. H.B. No. 7304 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF BIRDS AND ANIMALS AND THE DISCARDING OF FISHING LINE.

IV. ADJOURNMENT
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[tomc]

Here's how the commitee voted:
[url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/TS/H/2007HB-07124-R00ENV-CV33-TS.htm"][#3300cc]http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/TS/H/2007...NV-CV33-TS.htm[/#3300cc][/url]
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[tomc]

here is to keep track on the bill
AN ACT CONCERNING NATURAL RESOURCE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.(saltwater fishing license)

To change the method of marking fishing nets, to eliminate newspaper notification of fishing regulations, to establish a marine sport fishing license and impose a license fee

for recreational anglers fishing in the marine district, to change fishing license expiration dates, to provide reciprocity with New York and New England states and to change

references to the taking of bait species to conform to the new marine sport fishing license requirements.

[url "http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=7124&which_year=2007&SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0&SUBMIT1=Normal"][#3300cc]http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillsta...BMIT1=Nor mal[/#3300cc][/url]
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[gdn443]

They don't seem to state how much they want for a license. I hope they'er gentle.
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