CCA FLORIDA ANNOUNCES 2009 LEGISLATIVE CONSERVATION AWARDS

The Florida Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association has selected five state legislators to receive Legislative Conservation Awards in recognition of their support for marine fisheries conservation issues in 2009.

“We are very pleased to recognize these Legislators,” said Bill Bird, CCA Florida Chairman. “Their ongoing involvement and support for fisheries conservation has been a great benefit for our marine resources and recreational anglers.”

Legislators chosen to receive CCA Florida 2009 Legislative Conservation Awards are:

During the 2009 Legislative session, CCA Florida worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to remove the shoreline exemption from the saltwater fishing license, which did not exist for a freshwater license. The exemption allowed Florida residents to fish from the shoreline without having a fishing license, which has cost FWC millions of dollars in license fees and lost matching funds. The FWC and CCA Florida urged removal of the exemption and the addition of a provision for a free license or waiver for subsistence anglers such as individuals who receive benefits from Medicaid and Food Stamp programs. All other exemptions such as under 16 and over 65 will not be changed.

The removal of the shoreline exemption will not only bring in significant additional dollars for fisheries management, hatcheries and law enforcement, it will also allow Florida’s saltwater license to meet the upcoming federal angler registration law. That qualification will save Florida’s recreational fisherman about 20 million dollars in additional unnecessary federal angler registration fees. The Florida legislature approved the removal of the exemption and created a reduced cost ($7.50) shoreline only license.

 “These legislators have stepped up to help us on fisheries conservation issues. Their leadership and support during the 2009 legislative session and beyond has been outstanding,” said Ted Forsgren, CCA Florida Executive Director.