THE announcement of a new trout licence fee in New Zealand for visiting overseas anglers has sparked an online debate.
Fish & Game New Zealand this week announced its decision to launch a new non-resident season licence of $160 – a third more than the equivalent for New Zealanders.
The special licences will be available from the start of this year’s fishing season on October 1, and are aimed at visitors intending to fish for an extended period. Non-resident anglers will also still be able to buy 24-hour licences.
According to the NelsonMail, local fishing guides from Nelson and Tasman have welcomed the move.
Richmond fishing guide Tony Entwistle said the fee rise was a positive move that the New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association had been lobbying toward since the late 1980s.
Richmond hunting and fishing guide and Tasman District councillor Zane Mirfin said he did not think the hike would impact on tourism much.
“Most of the overseas people are more than happy to pay their share.”
Australian fishing identity Frank Prokop supports the fee rise. “I personally support non-resident licences and feel that about 25 per cent or so is a reasonable extra cost as visitors do not pay taxes to support the infrastructures that they also use,” Prokop wrote in a circulated email.
“I have long advocated for a non-resident barramundi licence for the NT and perhaps a specific non-resident impoundment licence for Lakes Kununurra and Argyle that are now being stocked with barra,” Prokop added.
The response to the licence hike on the nzfishing.com Facebook page appears largely mixed with some comments claiming it will harm NZ tourism, while others say it will have no effect.
What do you think, would a $40 licence fee rise stop you visiting New Zealand to fish?
