June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Inside the Outdoors
More thoughts, consequences of state shutdown
It has been reported that wardens who are out checking for fishing licenses and aquatic violations have been issuing warnings, rather than citations, to anglers fishing with no license. The sale of fishing licenses was halted indefinitely on June 30th with the government shutdown.
Far be it from me to advocate fishing in Minnesota without a license, but I have found myself imagining what it would be like to be a vacationer from out of state, arriving here to find no licenses available. Or a Minnesota family, for that matter, one that does little fishing except during the week they spend at a housekeeping cabin "up North."
To me it seems a potentially huge public relations black eye, in a state that depends heavily on tourism. Certainly it will be so with out-of-state visitors. Minnesotans were hearing about the possible shutdown for weeks before it happened, and being warned to get licenses, so we really have no excuse for not beating the June 30th deadline. But my heart goes out to the Iowa or Illinois or Indiana vacationers who might have been told by a conservation officer: "I'll just warn you this time, but you can't fish without a license."
Personally, I think we should consider granting an amnesty and allowing those folks to fish who can verify in some way that they are vacationing in the state; perhaps evidence of their resort, campground or motel reservation would do the job. I'm sure there are other possibilities.[[In-content Ad]]
Maybe the fishing could be catch-and-release only, so one could rationalize that there is little "cost" to the state in lost fish resources. At least the angling memories would be there for the making, and those visitors might leave the state with a little better taste in their mouth. Let's face it; that license revenue is lost for this year, regardless.
MORE LOSSES
Some might look at the state services shutdown and figure that with all those state employees on furlough, the salaries not being paid are just like putting money in the bank. Not quite. Salaries are going unpaid, but unemployment compensation makes up for about half of a person's salary, so dollars are being paid out, nonetheless.
But, perhaps more to the point, there are revenues that would normally be coming in to the state treasury that are not, thanks to the shutdown. Some of them are dollars that would be meeting hunting and fishing objectives. For instance, the state lottery is shut down. You may not know that the lottery is one of the larger and more dependable (usually) sources of funds for fish and wildlife management.
Normally, as much as $85,000 each day flows from lottery receipts to the state Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Whether you are pro or con on lottery gambling, it is a major funding source for protecting and enhancing the natural resources upon which fishing and hunting - and anglers and hunters - depend. It's pretty unlikely that Joe Average is saving up those lottery ticket dollars for spending when the state shutdown ends. Those dollars can pretty much be written off.
Even private conservation groups are putting some habitat improvement projects on hold, because such projects are often carried out jointly with the Minnesota DNR, and its fisheries or wildlife staff. Or, such organizations - the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, for example - will use their member-donated funds for a project, and be reimbursed by the DNR under its "small grants" programs.
But, not knowing when such reimbursements might come from the DNR, with most of its services and staff "mothballed," some organizations have decided to wait. In Minnesota, given the seasonal nature of construction and outdoor projects here, "wait" could easily mean "postpone for a year," unless a settlement between the Governor and Legislature comes soon.
Looks like no one comes out a winner here.
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