California Fishers and Hunters

[C-Hawk]

Just received this in my e-mail;

Department of Fish and Game

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03:113 December 3, 2003

Contacts: Chamois Andersen, Information Officer, (916) 657-4132

Antoinette Lobo, License and Revenue Branch, (916) 227-2282

California Sport Fishing and Hunting License Fees to

Increase Jan. 1

Fishing and hunting license fees, which are used to pay for managing fish and wildlife populations and their unique habitats, are scheduled to increase Jan. 1, 2004, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced.

The sweeping fee increase (details below) will affect all those who hunt or fish in California. It is part of the 2003-2004 fiscal-year budget, which was passed in August by the state Legislature.

"The additional revenue generated through license sales will help the Department pay for the increasing costs associated with conserving and protecting fish and game resources and their habitats," said DFG Acting Director Sonke Mastrup. "Our many roles in managing wildlife are far more expensive than they were a decade ago. And we needed to bring license fees in line with our costs to effectively manage these public resources."

DFG has not had a sweeping license fee increase since 1987. Since then, the Department has only adjusted license fees according to the state's cost-of-living as prescribed by Fish and Game Code.

"License fees essentially pay dividends to wildlife and the public who value their wide variety of uses," said Renee Renwick, acting deputy director of DFG's Fiscal Administration Division. "Increasing these fees is a way for us to maintain our efforts and meet the demands of conserving wildlife and preserving their habitats."

Fishing and hunting license fees, along with other funding, enables the Department to perform its mission - to manage California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.

California's vast and complex inland and ocean fisheries, for example, require intensive management efforts by the Department's resource managers and staff. From freshwater species to marine fishes, invertebrates and anadromous species, California is home to a diversity of fisheries and ecosystems that require costly management efforts.

In addition to more traditional roles in managing recreational opportunities, DFG is conducting more wildlife population assessments, environmental impact reports, and intensive restoration processes for wildlife - all of which is largely paid for with funds generated through license sales.

Fishing license fee changes that take effect Jan. 1, 2004 include the following:

- Eliminating the annual "Pacific Ocean Only" sport fishing license, which was $17.25.

- The annual Resident Sport Fishing License, which is valid in inland and ocean waters, increased from $29.25 to $31.25.

- The annual Nonresident Sport Fishing License increased from $78.50 to $84.

- The one-day "Pacific Ocean Only" sport fishing license was eliminated, which was $6.25.

- Anglers can now purchase a One-Day Sport Fishing License for $10 that is valid in both inland and ocean waters. (Anglers do not have to buy an ocean enhancement stamp with the purchase of this license).

- The 10-Day Nonresident Sport Fishing License fee increased from $29.25 to $31.25.

- A Two-Day Sport Fishing License will also be available again and increased from $10.50 to $15.75. It is valid in all waters. The two-day license, like the one-day license, is exempt from ocean enhancement stamp requirements.

Stamp and report card changes include the following:

- The Striped Bass Stamp will no longer be required. Legislation authorizing the Striped Bass Stamp Program expires Dec. 31.

- The Ocean Enhancement Stamp fee increased to $3.50 for saltwater anglers south of Point Arguello (Santa Barbara County). The Ocean Enhancement Stamp fee was established in 1995 at $2.50, and has not been adjusted to the cost-of-living index since then. Funding generated from this stamp is used for hatchery production, research, and restoration projects for affected marine sport fish such as white seabass.

- The Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp will sell for $5 and fund a new program aimed at system-wide, sport fishery enhancement. Funds from the sale of this new stamp are de dicated for projects that enhance sport fishing in the San Francisco Bay and Delta.

- The Steelhead Report Card fee increased from $3.75 to $5. This fee was established at $3 in 1993. Funds from the sale of Steelhead Report Cards are used to monitor and restore California's steelhead populations. Typical projects include assessing angler harvest, restoring spawning and rearing habitat, securing adequate flows, and removing barriers to migration.

- The Abalone Report Card increased from $12 to $15. Divers are required to have a Sport Fishing License and an abalone report card. Revenue generated from this report card is used for abalone restoration projects throughout the state.

Hunting license and tag fee increases that take effect July 1 include the following:

- The California Resident Hunting License increased from $29.75 to 31.25.

- A Nonresident Hunting License increased from $103.50 to $108.50.

- A Junior Hunting License for both residents and nonresidents went from $7.25 to $8.25 (under 16 at the time of purchase).

- The Two-Day Nonresident Hunting License fee is now equal to the annual Resident Hunting License fee and increased from $29 to $31.25.

- A Resident Wild Pig Tag increased from $8.75 for a book of five to $15 each, which are sold individually. The wild pig tag fee was increased to a fee that is more consistent with other big game tag fees. Funding generated from these tags is used for a dedicated fund for wild pig management.

- A Nonresident Wild Pig Tag increased from 13.25 to $50 (just one tag, not a book).

Business licensees will also face fee increases in 2004, including fees for commercial fishing licenses, commercial fish businesses, guides and aquaculturists.

Fees for lifetime hunting and fishing licenses will also increase Jan. 1, 2004. DFG is urging prospective buyers to purchase these licenses before Dec. 31 to receive the current rate. The Lifetime License fee is based on the age of the person at the time of the purchase.

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[Da Nag]

Thanks for the info, Roger. With the exception of the "Pacific Ocean Only" elimination, it doesn't look like a huge increase. Any idea how popular this license was? I'm guessing more so in Southern CA than up here - everyone I know got the full blown version.

Still...I find it interesting that I paid just slightly more for a non-resident fishing license in WA last year than I did for a resident license in CA.

[DaveS]

Bill, the reason you only paid slightly more for a NON-RESIDENT Wa. license than for a RESIDENT Ca. license, was the incentive to try to get you to move up here, where obviously the resident fees would be less.
Plus since our new babies will soon be in the crib at the same time, I'm sure they'll want to see more of each other in the coming years!

[TyBoo]

It looks like everybody is cheaper than Oregon.

[C-Hawk]

Just recieved this in e-mail--
SPECIAL INTEREST FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT FISH THE S.F. BAY AND DELTA AREA

Department of Fish and Game
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 03:120 December 18, 2003

Contacts: Heather McIntire, Central Valley Bay Delta Branch, (209)948-7800
Perry Herrgesell, Chief, Central Valley Bay Delta Branch, (209)
48-7800; Steve Martarano, Office of Public Affairs, (916) 654-5866

DFG Implements New Bay-Delta Sport Fishing
Enhancement Stamp

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has begun implementation of the new Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp (Senate Bill 692). Beginning Jan. 1, 2004, all anglers fishing in specified waters in the Delta, the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, including major tributaries, and the San Francisco Bay east of the Golden Gate Bridge will be required to possess the $5 (plus any applicable tax) stamp.

The new Bay-Delta Stamp will supercede the Striped Bass Stamp.

Revenue from sale of the stamp will be used only for long-term, sustainable sport fishing benefits in the geographic area where possession of the stamp is required. A nine-member advisory committee appointed by the Director of DFG will recommend projects for the expenditure of revenue received by the sale of the stamp. Projects are likely to include improvements to sport fishing access, enforcement of angling regulations, sport fish population and fisheries monitoring, habitat improvement, and environmental education. Committee members will be nominated by individual anglers and associations representing anglers affected by sale of the stamp. All committee meetings will be open to the public.

The stamp was developed in conjunction with several stakeholder groups, including representatives from United Anglers, California Sport Fish Protection Alliance, Northern California Federation of Fly Fishers, and Recreational Fishing Alliance. Development of a strategic plan for expenditures and on-going implementation of the program will be through collaboration with the advisory committee, experts, and sport fishing interests from throughout the area affected by sale of the stamp.

"Working with angler representatives to develop this multiple-species program has been an exciting and successful process," said Perry Herrgesell, Chief of DFG's Central Valley Bay Delta Branch. Bob Strickland of United Anglers concurred. "I am glad to be part of the group putting this stamp together and I think we can do some good work with it," Strickland said.

Anyone fishing in the following areas will be required to possess the Bay-Delta Sport Fishing Enhancement Stamp:

*The tidal waters of San Francisco Bay and Delta - The areas east of Golden Gate Bridge and into the San Francisco and San Pablo bays, and Carquinez Strait.

*The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta - This includes all rivers, sloughs, canals, cuts, forebays, and flooded islands within the area south of Interstate 80, west of Highway 99, north of I-580, I-205, and I-120, and east of I-680. This area includes the Cosumnes River west of Highway 99.

*The Sacramento River below Keswick Dam, the Feather River below Oroville Dam, the Yuba River below Englebright Dam, the American River below Nimbus Dam, the Cosumnes River west of Highway 99, the Mokelumne River below Camanche Dam, the Calaveras River below New Hogan Dam, the San Joaquin River below Mendota Dam, the Stanislaus River below Goodwin Dam, the Tuolumne River below LaGrange Dam, and the Merced River below Crocker-Huffman Dam.