If the states already have a saltwater licensing or if they institute one, they meet the requirements for this rule and you will not have to buy some federal permit. Lots of state anglers are upset that they now have to buy a license and are fighting it in the courts - I believe NY is one.

Bottom line is - yes, the feds want to know who is fishing and what they are catching. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires the feds to stop "overfishing" by 2011. This "registry" is one of the tools they plan to use.

Is it right? Is it fair? Will it do any good? My guess is no to all of these questions. Environmentalists - PETA, et al - are backing this to the hilt, because they can push this agenda and never have to make their face show in public. They also are behind the "Clean Water Act" that will put the feds in control of every body of water that has access to the oceans. They will regulate what can be done on that water - boating, fishing, whatever - and the states will have no power to overturn.

This is serious business to boating as well as fishing. To "protect the manatee" there are areas on Florida's east coast that are off limits not just to boats - but to ANY human presence. The plans to curtail boat access in Everglades National Park are draconian at best - idle only - paddle only, etc. It's what we are going to have to live with if we don't speak up and participate in the debates!

Sorry - sore subject with me and I get carried away...