Commercial fishermen will see their license fees increase by 25 percent in 2004 as a direct result in the $1.1 billion revenue shortfall in the state’s General Fund. The increase will go into the General Fund to help erase that deficit.
The state Department of Marine Resources (DMR) was required to cut its budget by $1.9 million as its contribution to the Governor John Baldacci’s call for decreases in state spending.
DMR Deputy Commissioner David Etnier, who served four terms in the legislature and on the Marine Resources and Appropriations Committees, said he is “convinced that this is a very efficient and lean state agency.”
The increase is levied only on the license fees, not on any additional surcharge such as a research or management fee that a particular license may also include.
For example, a sea urchin boat license fee currently costs $249 and will increase to $271 in 2004, and increase of $22 or 9 percent. When examined, the cost of $249 breaks down to $89 for the license and $160 for the Sea Urchin Research Fund. The $22 increase for 2004 does represent a 25 percent increase on only the $89 part of the entire fee.
None of dedicated funds, such as the Sea Urchin Research Fund, or the Lobster Promotion Fund, etc., will see an increase.
The dramatic increase in most shellfish licenses comes from requests from the industry itself.
While many of DMR programs are funded by federal or dedicated funds, three important areas get their money from the General Fund: public health, research at the Boothbay and Lamoine offices and the Marine Patrol. DMR Commissioner George Lapointe trimmed $1.9 million from these three areas.
Included in the cutbacks was the loss of three area shellfish biologists who monitor the health of that industry. Shellfish harvesters and town officials recognized that the loss of these three biologists meant that areas would be closed earlier and would take longer to open. The harvesters’ ability to earn a living would be severely hampered.
The shellfish industry turned out in full force when the Appropriations Committee held hearings on DMR’s section of the state budget. Shellfish harvesters said they would be willing to see an increase in their license fees to cover the costs of the biologists.
In DMR’s budget revision the fees for shellfish were increased to retain the 3 biologists as well as a 25 percent increase in the basic license cost.
When the Marine Resources Committee presented DMR’s budget to the Appropriations Committee, it included a strongly worded letter stating that the fees were raised to support these positions in the department, and were not to be used by the General Fund.
Etnier said that DMR was heartened by the turnout at the hearings in its support.
“This industry generates over $1 billion for the state in revenue and jobs and it needs state support,” he said.