New Hampshire NFC Supports Proposed Fisheries Habitat Fee Increase...
Investing in habitat work such as riparian replanting is money well spent as unlike stocking, it has residual long-term benefits….
“Protecting and restoring watersheds and riparian areas benefits wild native fish. This includes removing dams and other impediments to fish passage...”
If you are going to challenge state agencies when they don’t do the right thing, you have to be willing to support them when they do the right thing. A proposal to Increase New Hampshire’s Fisheries Habitat Fee in 2027 is one of those times.
New Hampshire’s $1.00 Fish Habitat Fee has not changed since its inception in 2000, or in twenty-six years. During this time operating costs have increased notably. An increase of $2.50 per fishing license in regard to this mandatory fee would help continue the pace as it was initially intended to be.
New Hampshire NFC formally supported the proposal to increase the Fisheries Habitat Fee. We did so because the disposition of the funds collected were clearly defined, beneficial to wild native fish, and protected in statute.
As a note, Last year, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife proposed an across the boards fishing license fee increase. as initially submitted, a percentage of the additional revenue would be earmarked for wild native fish management. After political lobbying by special interests looking to divert all of the money to stocking and boat launches, while they did not oppose the increase as it was a social not environmental issue, ME NFC formally pulled their support for the proposal.
