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Removal of exemption aimed at
maintaining funding base for fisheries management
August 22, 2007 - PRATT -- Traditional outdoor
recreation pursuits have experienced declining participation
rates throughout the U.S. in recent years. Pastimes such as fishing
reflect the changing face of American society, as a variety of
new leisure-time activities compete for the public"s time
and attention. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is
concerned about fishery funding issues related to this decline
and is seeking input through its Blog
About 406,000 persons fished in Kansas in 2006,
according to a recently-completed national survey conducted by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While Kansas is among the
leaders in the U.S. for the fishing participation rate of its
citizens, the prospect of aging "baby boomers" presents
challenges for the future of fishing here.
"The 'baby boom' generation has always been
heavily involved in fishing," said Doug Nygren, KDWP's fisheries
section chief. "Their support of the department's fisheries
management efforts, through their purchase of fishing licenses
and fishing equipment, has made possible a variety of unprecedented
high-quality fishing opportunities in our state."
Last year, the department's fisheries efforts expended
about $7 million to fund fisheries management in the state. That
revenue pays for professional biologists' activities, fish hatchery
operations, fuel, equipment, and other efforts aimed at enhancing
fishing opportunities across the state. Declining participation
rates, along with the prospect of baby boomers approaching the
fishing license-exempt age of 65, present serious challenges
to future fisheries management in Kansas. The department is investigating
a variety of strategies to secure funding for future fisheries
management in Kansas, including a proposal to modify some license
exemptions.
Currently, fishing licenses are required of Kansans
age 16 through 64 to fish public waters in the state; licenses
are not required for residents 65 and older. Of the 406,000 people
who fished in Kansas last year, only 253,000 were licensed. The
department's fisheries management efforts are funded almost entirely
from license and permit purchases of anglers, as well as an excise
tax paid on fishing equipment, which is distributed among the
states through federal aid programs. That federal aid distribution
is based partly on the number of fishing licenses sold, and exempt
anglers are not included in the formula that determines the department's
annual federal aid apportionment.
The department is considering a modification of
that senior exemption, so that the revenues for fisheries programs
and management in Kansas can be shared among as many anglers
as possible. Potential options include removing the senior exemption,
and offering either a reduced-price annual fishing license or
a reduced-price "lifetime" fishing license for citizens
65 and older.
To help determine public sentiment about this proposal,
KDWP invites interested persons to post comments at the KDWP
Blog.
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