February 23, 2011 - State Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R-Shirley) will be holding his first press conference as State Senator on Saturday, February 26 at 1 p.m. at the Suffolk County Boat and Sport Fishing Show in Brentwood, NY. Dozens of Long Islanders are expected to attend in support of the repeal of the saltwater fishing license fee, a charge enacted by the New York State Legislature two years ago which has been resented by Long Islanders ever since.
Senator Zeldin is expected to announce legislation to repeal it.
"The saltwater fishing license in New York is a broken law built on broken promises, and our saltwater fishing community applauds Sen. Zeldin for stepping up and addressing this issue early into his term," said Jim Hutchinson, managing director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) and president of the New York Sportfishing Federation. Hutchinson explained that efforts to repeal the license and replace it with a free angler registry program had previously been stalled in the New York Assembly, but he's hopeful about the new atmosphere in Albany.
"During his campaign, then candidate Lee Zeldin pledged to address this unfavorable law as Senator, and here it is the Senator's first press conference, and a promise to our New York fishing community is being fulfilled," Hutchinson said. "Being as how New Jersey just enacted a free registry law this week, New York RFA members now have something to be optimistic about."
"We applaud the Senator for recognizing the value of the recreational fishing industry," said John Mantione, spokesman for the New York Fishing Tackle Trade Association (NYFTTA). "We have been overtaxed and under-recognized as a viable contributor to New York's economy for too long, and Sen. Zeldin seems ready to reverse this trend on behalf of his fellow fishermen. I'll be proud to stand with Senator Zeldin on Saturday," Mantione said.
The 2011 Suffolk County Boat and Sport Fishing Show is being held at Suffolk County Community College Sports and Exhibition Complex, Crooked Hill Road, Brentwood, NY.
Are you angry about the LI Saltwater license fees? "Set To Announce Plans To Repeal..
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