Quoted in the Maine Sportsman

Capt. Barry Gibson writes each month about saltwater fishing in Maine in the Maine Sportsman, one of the two major monthly outdoor publications in our state. Barry attended the public hearing on the proposal that would have brought a saltwater fishing license to Maine. The opposition was significant and offered a variety of good reasons not to implement the proposal at this time. From the Sportsman article ”Well known Master Maine Guide, Capt. Don Kleiner of Warren (yes he got the town wrong) opposed the license as well and made an excellent point. ”We should identify our conservation needs first and build a constituency to support them, then figure out how to fund these programs,” Capt. Kleiner said. “With this proposal we’re doing it the other way around” The Marine Resource Committee members paid close attention to all of the testimony for nearly three hours and asked a number of thoughtful questions of the speakers.” I am not completely opposed to a saltwater fishing license but I want some serious though and discussion about what we will get for our money and a guarantee that the new money will not just be applied to a hole in the state budget. Which is what I believe the plan was with this effort. The full house voted to form a study group to review the possibilities. I only hope that the group contains someone who will offer voice to our conservation needs and not just the interests of the department that will get the money.