DNR media advisory for March 13, 2012

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources header

DNR MEDIA ADVISORY                                                                             MARCH 13, 2012
Media contacts: Ed Boggess, Fish and Wildlife Division director, 651-259-5180; Jenifer Wical, DNR License Project coordinator, 651-259-5217; Kathy DonCarlos, Deputy Fish and Wildlife Division director, 651-259-5226; Dirk Peterson, DNR Fisheries Section chief, 651-259-5229; Chris Niskanen, DNR communications director, 651-259-5023.

Advisory for editors, reporters covering DNR license fee story

Dear reporters and editors:

Chris Niskanen here, communications director for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. As you may know, Minnesota state lawmakers are considering legislation this session that would increase the price of most hunting and fish licenses, decrease the price of certain youth licenses and other licenses, and create several new license options based on customer input.

The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the license fee issue Tuesday, March 13 starting at 3 p.m. in room 107 at the Capitol.

If you choose to cover this issue, there is a wealth of information at www.mndnr.gov/heritage. The information on the website is part of a proposal contained in Gov. Mark Dayton's supplemental budget that was released Monday.

This link provides information about:

  • The DNR's proposed license fees.
  • Why the state's Game and Fish Fund is projected to go into the red by next July.
  • "No action" implications for local fish, wildlife and law enforcement operations.
  • A stakeholder letter of support signed by more than 50 conservation organizations.
  • Background material about how license prices were determined.

Here is some background information on the issue:

  • It has been nearly 12 years since the last general hunting and fishing license fee increase.
  • This type of "user fee" has helped make Minnesota become one of the nation's top five angling destinations and a national leader in diverse and high-quality hunting.
  • About 1.5 million people buy Minnesota fishing licenses each year.
  • About 600,000 people buy Minnesota hunting licenses each year.
  • Hunting and fishing license revenue is the state's most important funding source for managing 5,400 fishing lakes, managing hunting and habitat or nearly 50 game species, and delivering natural resource law enforcement.
  • Hunting and fishing are important to the state's economy. Hunters and anglers spend about $3.6 billion each year in Minnesota. Their spending supports 55,000 Minnesota jobs.
  • The DNR has already implemented many cost-saving measures, but without a license fee increase there will be negative impacts to quantity and quality of fish and wildlife management and conservation law enforcement.

For more information or an interview, contact any one of the DNR representatives listed at the top of this advisory. DNR staff will be at Tuesday's Senate hearing starting at 3 p.m. as well.
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