June 4, 2015 - Sacramento – Senator Tom Berryhill (R-Twain Harte) announces Senate passage of the Sport Fishing Stimulus Act of 2015. Last week the Senate Appropriations Committee removed the key provision of Senate Bill 345 and sent a scaled down version of the legislation to the Senate Floor.
Excerpts of Berryhill’s Senate Floor remarks reflect his frustration at the Committee’s gutting of the bill without warning or consultation:
“SB 345, the bill formerly known as the Sport Fishing Stimulus Act of 2015, used to go a long way to help reverse the downward spiral that fishing license revenues have been in for the past 30 years. Unfortunately, the Appropriations Committee Staff decided in their infinite, wisdom that they knew this issue better than anyone, the bill now stimulates nothing but my angst at this process…
“…The bill does, however, create a reduced price junior fishing license for 16 and 17 year-olds. The bill has received no “No” votes and has no opposition.
“This bill was great, now it’s good. I ask for your aye vote.”
In its original form, Senate Bill 345 would have replaced California’s antiquated (and non-practical) calendar year fishing license with a 12-consecutive month license - much like a DMV license or any number of other available licenses in California. According to data in other states that have adopted a consecutive month license, this small change could have bolstered license sales in California.
“I intend on pursuing this issue with my colleagues in the Senate and in the Assembly until we get the needed changes. Fishing license sales in California have plummeted in the last decade. Allowing for a 12-consecutive month license would have made the system more convenient and encouraged people to buy a license and enjoy the sport.”
A recent study released by the California Sportfishing League found:
“…. Since 1980, when annual licenses were sold for as little as $5.00, California’s annual fishing license sales have dropped by more than 55%..., while our state’s population has increased by nearly 60%. In 2014, 40,000 fewer annual fishing licenses were sold compared to 2013.
If the 35-year trend remains constant, annual fishing license sales are expected to drop below 500k by 2027, or another 49% over the next 12 years. Should this occur, between 1980 and 2027, annual license sales will have dropped 78%. This downward trend could accelerate even faster if fees are increased substantially, or new regulations are imposed that increase costs or barriers to fishing…
… Combine the high costs with an antiquated calendar-year license system, and California provides the least value to anglers in the United States.”
“California’s fishing license purchases have been on a free fall for years. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has no plan to revitalize a system on which environmental and habitat restoration depend. This is yet another example of bureaucrats standing in the way of progress.
“It ain’t over till it’s over and I am not giving up the fight to rebuild a great California tradition, and an industry that so many of us in rural California depend upon for tourism dollars and jobs,” Berryhill added.
California has 4,000 lakes/reservoirs, over 20,000 registered ponds, and thousands of miles of streams and rivers, yet has experienced an unprecedented decline in recreational fishing. Over the past 35 years, annual fishing license sales have plummeted more than 55%, while the cost of an annual license has increased 840%! Today, California ranks dead last for sportfishing participation.
