I believe the excise tax for crab is .025 based upon the ex vessel price. At $2.70 a pound at the dock a 1.9# crab will be sold for $5.13 and have an associated extractive excise tax of $.13 which goes to the general fund. That same crab generates roughly $.02 in license revenue.

When we start talking taxes we open up another can of worms. Not only do we pay a State sales tax on all of the goods and services we purchase the manufacturers of recreational fishing equipment pay a 10% Federal tax (Wallop - Breaux Fish Restoration Act) which is passed along as a cost of the product which is then subject to mark up along the distribution system until it is purchased at retail and the State sales tax is paid.

Again, who is paying and who is getting the benefits? Not necessarily the same folks!

Nunyet - There has been a lot of discussion about who will fund removal of nets and pots in the future. Please recall that nets still do not have to be identified as to owner nor do they have to be reported if lost. But that is another story.