“The ultimate authority over the (Virginia) saltwater recreational license fund rests with the anglers that actually fund it,” wrote Dr. Ken Neill, III, president of the Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association, Inc., and associate commissioner on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). He was addressing the recent concerns of recreational fishermen that monies generated from license sales are being used to cover gaps in the Virginia Marine Resources Commission budget.
“Anglers have accepted this to a point. When core, angler-funded recreational programs are targeted, that point has been crossed,” Neill said. In December, Neill and others met with the state’s Recreational Fishing Advisory Board, the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament Committee, the Finfish Management Advisory Committee, presidents of fishing clubs, leaders in other recreational fishing organizations, and individuals involved with the initial founding of the saltwater fishing license.
“We had two simple questions: 1) What do Virginia’s anglers want? and 2) What is the minimum that anglers demand?” Neill shared with PropTalk. “The ‘want’ was easy. We want the license fund to be used as intended—we want all of our money. The minimum was more varied. For some, ‘all of it’ is the minimum but there was a general consensus of the core programs that must be funded for anglers to have any reason to support the saltwater license.”
The heart of the sport fishing “core programs” most certainly is the wildly popular Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, which includes the Junior Angler, Outstanding Angler, Annual Species, and Game Fish Record programs. All help promote Virginia’s excellent recreational fisheries. At press time, the Virginia Governor’s budget for fiscal year 2018 calls for the elimination of the angler-funded VSWFT.
Neill’s reminder to Virginia’s anglers that they have “the power to stop this cold” led to a meeting with Virginia’s secretary of Natural Resources, Molly Ward, and John Bull, the commissioner of VMRC.
“Basically, they heard our message and want the chance to manage the issues before we decide that paying for a saltwater license is an investment anglers no longer wish to make,” he said of the meeting, adding the VMRC commissioner and the secretary of Natural Resources pledged to work with the sport fishing community to restore the funds.
While he acknowledges that the VMRC’s budget issues are “real,” Neill also points out that so are anglers’ expectations as to what this dedicated fund is to be used for.
“At the very least, anglers need to let their elected officials know what they expect done with their money,” he said.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 - 09:40
“The ultimate authority over the (Virginia) saltwater recreational license fund rests with the anglers that actually fund it,” wrote Dr. Ken Neill, III, president of the Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association, Inc., and associate commissioner on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). He was addressing the recent concerns of recreational fishermen that monies generated from license sales are being used to cover gaps in the Virginia Marine Resources Commission budget.
“Anglers have accepted this to a point. When core, angler-funded recreational programs are targeted, that point has been crossed,” Neill said. In December, Neill and others met with the state’s Recreational Fishing Advisory Board, the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament Committee, the Finfish Management Advisory Committee, presidents of fishing clubs, leaders in other recreational fishing organizations, and individuals involved with the initial founding of the saltwater fishing license.
“We had two simple questions: 1) What do Virginia’s anglers want? and 2) What is the minimum that anglers demand?” Neill shared with PropTalk. “The ‘want’ was easy. We want the license fund to be used as intended—we want all of our money. The minimum was more varied. For some, ‘all of it’ is the minimum but there was a general consensus of the core programs that must be funded for anglers to have any reason to support the saltwater license.”
The heart of the sport fishing “core programs” most certainly is the wildly popular Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, which includes the Junior Angler, Outstanding Angler, Annual Species, and Game Fish Record programs. All help promote Virginia’s excellent recreational fisheries. At press time, the Virginia Governor’s budget for fiscal year 2018 calls for the elimination of the angler-funded VSWFT.
Neill’s reminder to Virginia’s anglers that they have “the power to stop this cold” led to a meeting with Virginia’s secretary of Natural Resources, Molly Ward, and John Bull, the commissioner of VMRC.
“Basically, they heard our message and want the chance to manage the issues before we decide that paying for a saltwater license is an investment anglers no longer wish to make,” he said of the meeting, adding the VMRC commissioner and the secretary of Natural Resources pledged to work with the sport fishing community to restore the funds.
While he acknowledges that the VMRC’s budget issues are “real,” Neill also points out that so are anglers’ expectations as to what this dedicated fund is to be used for.
“At the very least, anglers need to let their elected officials know what they expect done with their money,” he said.