PITTSBURGH (TNS) — In 2005, Pennsylvanians paid $22 for a fishing license and $1.60 for a gallon of gasoline.
On Thursday in Harrisburg, the cost of an adult resident fishing license increased for the first time in 17 years. Pending legislative approval, in 2023 anglers will pay $25.47 for a license, an increase of $2.50. Getting to where they want to fish is expected to cost about $4.25 per gallon.
While the cost of everything increased, the state legislature froze license fees at 2005 prices for the semi-autonomous agency mostly funded by user license fees. On Thursday, the state Fish and Boat Commission set its own license fees for the first time since its founding in 1866.
Under the proposal, $2.50 would be added to current fees charged for all license categories for state residents, non-residents and seniors as well as trout permits and combination trout/ Lake Erie permits. Additional increases would be applied to other license and permit fees.
Revenues from those fee increases were expected to generate an estimated $2.5 million annually for the agency’s Fish Fund, which supports fishing related programs.
Approval was also given for increases in fees for boat titles, licenses and permits. According to Fish and Boat, administrative fees related to title certificates, cast net permits and penalties for uncollectible checks had not been updated since the 1980s or 1990s. Revenues from these fee increases were expected to generate an estimated $30,000 annually for the Fish Fund and $1.2 million for the Boat Fund used to pay for boating related programs.
The 20-year absence in fee increases has been attributed to the reluctance of lawmakers to raise the cost of fishing, fearing a ballot box retaliation from constituents. In a controversial vote in 2020, the legislature gave Fish and Boat the authority to set its own license and permit fees pending legislative oversight. The agency used that power for the first time Thursday.
The fee increases aren’t official yet. Also, in accordance with Act 56 of 2020, the final rule proposal, the transcript of a July 25 public hearing and all public comments associated with the proposal are to be shared with the Pennsylvania House and Senate Game and Fisheries committees for review. If approved the fee increases would go into effect with 2023 licenses, which go on sale Dec. 1.
