The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service announced this week it will create a national saltwater angler registry of all marine recreational fishermen to help the nation better protect shared marine resources. The final rule requires anglers and spearfishers
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service announced this week it will create a national saltwater angler registry of all marine recreational fishermen to help the nation better protect shared marine resources.
The final rule requires anglers and spearfishers who fish recreationally in federal ocean waters to be included in the national saltwater angler registry by Jan. 1, 2010.
If anglers are not licensed or registered by a state that has been exempted and want to fish in federal waters, they will be required to register with NOAA.
Federal saltwater angler registrations will include an angler’s name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and the regions where they intend to fish.
Once anglers have registered, they may fish anywhere in U.S. federal waters regardless of the region or regions they specified in their registration.
Saltwater anglers will be able to register online or by calling a toll-free telephone number that will be publicized, and will receive a registration certificate.
Anglers will need to carry this certificate (or their state license from an exempt state) and produce it to an authorized enforcement officer if requested.
No fee will be charged in 2010. An estimated fee of $15 to $25 per angler will be charged starting in 2011.
To read the final registry rule and other information about the Marine Recreational Information Program, go to www.countmyfish.noaa.gov
