From:
frankkrist6@gmail.com
To:
Frank Krist
Bcc:
rmanyen@aol.com
Wed, Dec 4 at 11:28 PM
Hello Everyone,
MDNR funding HB 6229 has been introduced into the final session of the state legislature and your continued support is extremely critical to its passage. For those that have not received this notice already, Fisheries Chief, Randy Claramunt below, has provided details of the Bill.
Frank
Dear Michigan Fisheries Stakeholders, Partners, and Supporters,
On behalf of DNR Fisheries Division, I am excited to share with you that the bill to adjust hunting and fishing licenses has been introduced in the Michigan House as HB-6229 for the protection and enhancement of the incredible and diverse fishery in Michigan. In addition to the legislative sponsorship, we have received numerous calls and official letters of support from the Michigan Steelhead & Salmon Fishermen’s Association (all chapters), Michigan Charter Boat Association, Great Lakes Council of Fly Fishers International, Bass Federation of Michigan, Trout Unlimited, Anglers of the Au Sable, Straits Area Sportsman's Club, Burt Lake Preservation Association, Upper Black River Council and various fishing advisory groups and lake associations across the state. This bill will update the available fishing license fees which were last changed over 10 years ago and have not kept pace with economic changes or changes in the sportfishing industry and community.
In the words of our stakeholders, this license “proposal would generate new revenue that would increase staffing, mostly at the field level, add fisheries technicians and biologists, increase fish production, and many other benefits that will help to preserve and improve Michigan’s most important natural resources”. The Great Lakes Council of Fly Fishers International also notes that, “It is estimated that recreational fishing generates $2.3 billion in economic activity for our state and that there are over 1 million licensed anglers.”
Our stakeholders and partners also recognized that the previous fishing and hunting license change in 2013 failed to address long-term funding needs for our fisheries. As stated by Michigan Charter Boat Association, “since the last fishing license fee adjustment, the cost of fish food for hatcheries has increased over 70 percent. This explosion in cost is found across all MDNR Fisheries Division activities. It threatens the ability [of the agency] to maintain proper staffing, stock the Great Lakes with sportfish, maintain equipment and repair the infrastructure which supports these activities.”
We couldn’t state the case any clearer and more succinctly than our partners have here, and we encourage you to voice your support for the license package, which will be a game changer for Michigan’s fisheries and future generations of anglers. You can do so by contacting your respective legislator by any means possible (email, letter, call, etc.) and let them know that you want them to support this bill but do so asap as there are only a few days left in Session and thanks again for all your support.
Randy
