[Mr. Bird]

The permits would cover a year and would cost about $27, he said

Well, any revenue enhancement would be offset by the loss of tax revenues from the numerous excursion boats that would go belly up.

[John H K]

This actually is less of something new than the press release seems to imply; charter boats and party boats ALREADY have to buy a permit to catch most anything in Federal waters, including summer flounder, black sea bass, bluefin tuna, etc. They're just adding species.

And it doesn't mean that every time someone wants to ride on a partyboat in Federal Waters they have to buy a $27 permit; what they mean is a permit per BOAT per year, if a private boater wanted to fish for those species. The permit a charter or partyboat buys for a year covers all the passengers on the boat.