Marine Boat Tag

OceanBlue · 08-23-2002, 01:08 PM

Seems to me that if 250,000 saltwater anglers paid an additional $4.00/year for a saltwater "tag", it would be covered. Jim and company need to determine what the cost is and then just divvy it up.

BUT - I agree, there must be some assurance that the funds would not be touched for ANY other purpose. Ever.

Pilar: Want me to put together a poll? Or we could work with Jim/Patty to understand the info they'd need in order to get this pushed through.

Uglygreen · 08-23-2002, 01:39 PM

$50 max... if used for stated purpose ONLY!!!!, but will probably cost more, more cops to enforce, etc...

skein · 08-23-2002, 01:44 PM

Think "Marine Stamp" instead of license and you'll probably get a lot more takers. Besides a stamp is a lot easier to administer than a license. The mindset is already in place with bird stamps like duck and upland birds. I have one on my Canadian license and didn't blink an eye. It's called a "Salmon Conservation Stamp" and costs $6.42. Why not a "Marine Conservation Stamp" for about the same amount?

And, if they're nicely done, you can appeal to the folks who don't fish but maybe collect stamps or just want to help. That way they don't have to go through the license hassle.

The usual caveats apply: I don't want the money siphoned off to study some chub somewhere and I don't want it to fund folks who think we should only *look* at the ocean, not go out on it.

Skein

eightball · 08-23-2002, 02:04 PM

We already pay for a salmon tag, halibut and sturgeon. What would be wrong with a bottom fish tag? We are already taxed for everything but the air we breathe. But if it's nessesary then it should be done. You are right to think the state would try to spend it on some other "more important" issue if they could. They would have to be handcuffed to keep their stickies off from a special fund for research.

Pilar · 08-23-2002, 11:20 PM

One of the problems with managing the near shore ocean is a lack of money for research. Fish stock assessments are inadequate or non existant and this makes precise regulation difficult. In fact it makes blanket closures and coastwide restrictions the only thing possible.

Some have stated in meetings recently that they would like to see a special license for marine boats to support this effort. Don't know how much or whether sport, commercial or both would pay.

How much would you pay?

Jim Golden thought out loud at the Newport, Aug 12 meeting that a mere $1 million would get the job at least started. Continuing support is important as population studies can take years. But it also has to get started.

Why wait on the legislature, local officials or the feds to kick down the money? In todays political climate I may as well ask the Coast Guard to deliver beer and sandwiches offshore whenever I call on the radio.

What do you think? Come on don't be shy.

Tinman · 08-23-2002, 11:38 PM

I fully support the idea IF funds are dedicated solely to the cause. I would not want the funds going into the general fund, and siphoned off for other uses, especially in the sort of tax revenue "emergency" we are in now.

How much? Thirty or 40 bucks a year seems reasonable. I'm at the bottom end of seagoing boats with my 15 footer/25 hp Evinrude, so I wouldn't want to pay much more.

How about a sliding fee based on boat length or horspower?

corrirod · 08-25-2002, 12:24 PM

I think the stamp thing is the best and I'd be willing to spend another $10 to get it. You must find the fine line between too much and too little. For instance, I now purchase the SportPac license but before that I purchased tags individually and when I did you could buy a bear tag for a minimal price of like $10. That price was borderline for me because I didn't necessarily want to kill a bear, nor was I going to specifically go out after a bear, but for $10 I'd buy the tag just in case I saw a bear while I was out hunting for something else.

sturgn · 08-25-2002, 12:53 PM

Yeah I could cut out a couple of Starbucks to get some time on the ol' blue! Maybe $25 a year, but I would want a sticker to put on the boat! got enough tags and crap in my wallet as it is!

Orca · 08-25-2002, 12:54 PM

Great idea. $25 - $50 bucks would not be a problem. It would turn out to be $2 - 3$ per trip into the ocean. I wouldn't even notice the $3 after getting a $100 tank of gas. Go a head and charge the Charters $2 per angler as well. They can just up the price $2, and I don't see that any Charter anglers are going to not go out because it costs them $57 instead of $55.

[ 08-25-2002, 01:55 PM: Message edited by: Orca ]

Threemuch · 08-26-2002, 09:51 AM

I would pay whatever it was. But I might not like it. $20-30 dedicated to the resource is no problem. Depends alot on how they spend it.

Deepslayer · 08-26-2002, 10:09 AM

It would probably be a good idea, but the only way to keep the politicians fromm spending it on something else would be to pass a constitutional amendment! :depressed:
,Ed

craigc · 08-26-2002, 02:13 PM

I believe it would be very difficult to keep our elected politicians from diverting the additional funds from other uses, unless there is change in the State constitution requiring something like a super major for a change in the charter for how the collected funds are used. The executive and legistlative branches can reverse just about any law that's popular now with a legistlative vote, and executive branch signing off on the bill.

Even though this idea may stink on the surface, I believe the current system of lobbying for money from the general fund is the path of least resistance when involving the state government. If you don't let the politicians frame the debate between schools vs. tax hikes... I would bet there is a lot of discretionary money being spent for business trips, off site meetings, sponsored artwork, make-work projects, high priced conference tables, chairs, partitions, etc. that could be diverted to support the research needed....

WP · 08-26-2002, 08:54 PM

I think that something similar to the old commercial "boat license" would be excellent. $35 a year per boat with a decal displayed on all boats fishing in saltwater. 150 a year for Charter boats. Nothing to carry around and no individual fees. Funds to be directly directed to targeted agencies. I am sure that some will leak past but we need the money and the effort if our sport fishing is to continue into our childrens future...or even our own. I personally would support even higher fees if they served the purpose!