- Target:
- Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.vtfishandwildlife.com
Currently in Vermont, commercial non motorized vessels not used for fishing, hunting or trapping are prohibited on state fishing access areas. This restricts nature guides, boat builders and retailers, canoe/kayak paddle instructors, tour programs, non motorized youth programs and more from the opportunity to use public access areas. While anyone with a canoe or kayak can use a fishing access to launch or retrieve a vessel, professionals prepared to teach technique, safety and ethics are not allowed. Even a nature guide with a customer in a canoe is restricted.
Permitting policy for non profit events on public access areas are currently being reviewed by the Fish & Wildlife Board. This is no time for the Board to discriminate against businesses who provide essential services to the public and have little or no negative impact on our resources. Permits for both non profits and for profits should be allowed.
We, the undersigned, encourage the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board to allow limited non-motorized commercial use of Vermont's public access areas for launch and retrieval as well as non profit special events, by special permit issued by the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife, from a list of pre-determined access areas.
The list should be comprised of some of the 50 "carry on sites", and some of the 51 "small boat sites", as well as other underutilized access areas (throughout the week or only on weekdays) providing ample parking is available and the added use does not adversely impact current users or use in the foreseeable future.
Our proposal would:
* Allow commercial non motorized use of underused access areas.
* Not create a new permitting process.
* Not adversely affect Federal funding of State access areas.
* Maintain priority use for fishing, hunting, trapping and motorboats.
* Continue to allow Fish & Wildlife to restrict use in overused or crowded access areas.
* Assist many water sports based businesses.
* Contribute to the rural economy.
By signing this petition you show your support for a permitting process for limited non-motorized commercial activities and non profit events on Vermont's public access areas.
The Allow Commercial Non Motorized Use of Underused Access Areas petition to Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board was written by Graydon Stevens and is in the category Law Reform at GoPetition.