Texas Anglers Will Keep Buying Out Commercial Fishermen

[byrumjr]

[font "Arial"][black][size 2]The Commission of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department decided salt water anglers will continue to help fund a program designed to reduce commercial fishing effort in bays through a $3 surcharge on the Salt Water Sportfishing Stamp fee. Though previously slated to expire next year, the fee collects money from the surcharge to pay for a license-buy-back program with the goal of getting commercial shrimpers, crabbers and finfishermen off the water. The shrimp-license buy-back program has purchased more than 1,150 licenses and has spent more than $7 million, and the latest round bought 96 licenses at a cost of $736,000.[/size][/black][/font]
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