California Fishermen Face Challenges

California fishermen face challenges

Move to 12-month license to replace calendar license offset by potential ban on lead fishing tackle

By Ed Zieralski | 10:32 a.m.Sept. 23, 2015

POINT LOMA — California could be on the the verge of making life a lot simpler for fishermen to buy a fishing license, but at the same time a state agency is looking at banning lead fishing tackle in the state.

First the good news.

On Oct. 8, the state Fish and Game Commission at its Oct. 8 meeting will consider a plan to transition the state from a calendar-based fishing license system to a license that will be valid for 12 months from the date it’s purchased. The Commission can’t change the license, but it can offer its support for the change to the Legislature, which later this year will hear the California Sportfishing League-sponsored Senate Bill 345. That bill was authored by Senator Tom Berryhill. It includes several provisions to reform California’s costly fishing license program, including one that transitions the state to a 12-month license system.

Presently in California, all fishing licenses expire on Dec. 31 no matter when they’re purchased during the year. Under the new plan, if a fisherman buys a license on Sept. 23 it be good for a full 12 months.

Fish and Game Commission president Jack Baylis and vice president Jim Kellogg stated at a recent meeting that they believe switching to a 12-month license will increase license sales. But the state Department of Fish and Wildlife believes license sales will drop with a 12-month license and points to one state, Alabama, where fishing license sales fell off after the state went to a 12-month license. Proponents of the switch to the 12-month cycle point to other states where it has improved license sales.

“The high cost of fishing has contributed to an unprecedented decline in annual fishing license sales,” said Marko Milikotin, executive director of the California Sportfishing League, a fishing activist group that has been pushing for the 12-month license. “Our aim is to increase participation rates by making fishing affordable and accessible, which will have the added benefit of protecting jobs and communities dependent on outdoor tourism.”

Fish and Wildlife statistics show that California resident fishing license sales have dropped by more than half, 56 percent, since 1980. In 1980, 2,255,389 resident Californians bought fishing licenses. In 2014, that figure dropped to 990,474.

The California Sportfishing League showed the commissioners at their Sept. 9 meeting that states such as Arizona and Utah had an increase in fishing license sales after transitioning to the 12-month plan. Other states such as Maryland and South Carolina and numerous other states experienced the same boost in sales after adopting innovative marketing strategies designed to retain and grow fishing license programs, according to Milikotin.

“While California’s fishing participation rates continue to decline, the Department of Fish and Wildlife fails to recognize the urgency of reforming an antiquated fishing license program that funds fishery management, fish hatcheries and habitat conservation programs,” said Mlikotin. “There is no question that the failure to act will result in major financial problems for the department down the road.”

California Sportfishing League sponsored Senate Bill 345, state legislation authored by Senator Tom Berryhill, includes several provisions to reform California’s costly fishing license program, including a provision that transitions the state to a 12-month license system.

Now the bad news.

In addition to backing the 12-month fishing license, the California Sportfishing League also is battling a California agency over a possible ban on any fishing tackle with lead. That would include sinkers, split shots, jigs and some lures.

Back in April, the California Department of Toxic Substances listed fishing tackle on its list of seven consumer products that the agency has identified as containing dangerous chemicals that pose a significant health risk to the public or the environment.

The California Sportfishing League has challenged this by gathering a list of comments from 1,200 anglers challenging the science behind the possible ban. Also, CSL’s legal counsel has sent a letter to the California Department of Toxic Substances asking that it provide scientific proof that lead fishing gear impacts the environment.

The Center for Biological Diversity attempted a similar move by petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency about lead tackle back in 2011. But it failed to get the EPA to act. In fact, the EPA issued a ruling stating that although it appears lead tackle may have an impact in certain areas, it does not pose a threat nationwide.

Now California’s anglers are facing a similar challenge that hunters dealt with over the California condor. We all know how that worked out. In 2019, hunters will be prohibited from using any lead ammunition throughout California.

Is fishing tackle next?