Olson Seeks Relief from Fishing Guide Fees

A resolution urging the United States Congress to change the rules regarding fishing and boat guide licensure has had its first hearing in a Minnesota Senate Committee. The resolution, authored by Sen. Mary Olson aims to help local businesses and resorts by easing the process of obtaining fish and boat guide licenses on Minnesota lakes.

Senator Olson says hundreds of thousands of jobs are tied into the industry, and many of those jobs are reliant on natural resources, including over 500 fishing and recreation guides throughout the state, many of whom operate in her district. She says current federal law governing the licensing of these guides does not apply to the smaller fishing and recreational vessels that operate on inland lakes in Minnesota.

The Bemidji DFL-er says it would cost a great amount of money and hardship on boat owners to obtain these licenses.