A saltwater fishing license fee–that New York towns fought against after it was enacted in 2009–was officially eliminated as part of the state budget, Senator Ken LaValle said. The Senate passed a portion of the state budget that permanently eliminates the saltwater fishing license fee, confirmed Senator Lee M. Zeldin.
“The elimination of the saltwater fishing license fee was one of many important priorities for me since taking office in 2011,” said Senator Zeldin. “The three-year moratorium we secured in the 2011-2012 budget was a big victory for all Long Islanders, but there is no better to build on that success than to permanently eliminate the fee in this year’s budget. I am very grateful that Governor Cuomo included the elimination of this fee in his 30-Day Executive Budget Amendment.”
Earlier this year, Senator Zeldin and Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. introduced legislation to permanently eliminate the Salt Water Fishing License Fee. The elimination of the fee is part of a larger budget bill that also simplifies, consolidates and reduces the prices of hunting and other fishing licenses.
“Fishing in our local oceans, and bays is considered a birth right by our residents that goes back to colonial times; recreational fishing is a critical sector in New York State’s economy,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “Recreational marine fishing in New York creates $812 million in sales, directly supports 5,365 jobs, provides $424 million in value-added economic impact, and $126 million in tax revenue, according to a 2006 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) study. Permanent repeal of the saltwater fishing license eliminates this unnecessary burden on this important economic engine as we recover from the worst recession in decades. This is a major victory for Long Island.”
