SALTWATER FISHING LICENSE BILL REVIVED

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 9, 1992                   TAG: 9202090151
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short
SALTWATER FISHING LICENSE BILL REVIVED
Two days after killing a bill to require saltwater fishermen to buy a license, the House of Delegates reversed its decision Saturday and gave the measure preliminary approval.
Before advancing the bill, the House amended it to apply only to the Chesapeake Bay. Many fishermen had complained that revenue generated by the fee would do nothing to benefit Atlantic Ocean fishing.
"This amendment makes it a true Chesapeake Bay measure," said Del. Robert Bloxom, R-Accomack.
But Del. Glenn Croshaw, D-Virginia Beach, said the amendment defeats the bill's purpose of raising money for a fisheries management program. He added that it would create confusion for anglers unable to determine when they were leaving ocean waters and entering the bay.
Croshaw also opposed the bill. He said fishermen should not have to pay for bay problems they did not cause.
But Del. W. Tayloe Murphy Jr., D-Warsaw, sponsor of the bill, noted that the money would not be used to clean up the bay, but to improve fisheries management.
The bill, which had been killed Thursday and revived Friday, advanced on a voice vote.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB