Coastal Recreational Fishing License Passes!

The Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) legislation completes work began in 1997, when the General Assembly adopted the Fisheries Reform Act to prevent over fishing and to protect fish habitat. The new CRFL will provide resource managers with the data they need to responsibly manage sustainable fish stocks. The Fisheries Reform Act follows on the precedent established by the successful freshwater fishing license administered by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Time and time again, anglers have expressed support for a coastal license program where the revenues generated go directly back to the resource. The funds collected by the license, estimated at $19.2 million a year by the 2007-08 fiscal year, will go towards the conservation of marine resources providing millions of dollars to protect fish habitat, restore fish stocks, and fund research.

The new license, which passed the General Assembly and is on its way to the Governor's Office, allows charter boats and fishing pier owners to purchase a blanked license for all of their customers. It also empowers both the Marine Fisheries Commission and the Wildlife Resources Commission to oversee the monies brought in by the new license.

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation has been working alongside other like-minded entities to establish a coastal license for over 15 years. A resolution penned in early 1990 states, “the North Carolina Wildlife Federation…urges the N.C. General Assembly to enact statutes requiring salt water sports fishing persons to be licensed with appropriate fees, requirements, and exemptions so as to more equitably share the cost of fisheries management programs among all users, and provide additional funds to marine fisheries.” This newly passed legislation for the CRFL is a big victory for the NCWF, the resource, and future generations of salt-water anglers.

The CRFL becomes effective January 1, 2007. Here is a list of the license fees:

· Annual Resident CRFL – $15.00.

· Annual Nonresident CRFL – $30.00.

· 10-day Resident CRFL – $5.00.

· 10-day Nonresident CRFL – $10.00.

· Various Lifetime CRFL's – Fees vary.

Exemptions for individuals who:

· Are under 16 years of age.

· Hold a Lifetime Resident Comprehensive Fishing License or a Lifetime Sportsman License purchased prior to January 1, 2006. (also exempts certain individuals who hold Lifetime CRFL's for disabled veterans, totally disabled individuals, legally blind individuals, and adult care home residents).

Other fees:

· Optional For Hire Blanket CRFL (annual license that authorizes all individuals on board a for hire boat to fish without an individual CRFL) – Fees are based on the number of passengers and range from $250.00 to $350.00.

· Optional Ocean Fishing Pier Blanket CRFL (annual license that authorizes all individuals on the pier to fish without an individual CRFL) – The fee is $4.00 per linear foot.

· Annual Resident Unified Sportsman/CRFL (hunting and fishing) – $55.00.

· Annual Resident Unified Inland/CRFL (fishing only) – $35.00.

· Various Lifetime Unified Sportsman/CRFL's (hunting and fishing). – Fees vary.

· Lifetime Unified Inland/CRFL (fishing only) – $450.00.

· Resident Subsistence Unified Inland/Coastal Recreational Fishing License Waiver (fishing only) – free.