New dive boat levy labelled 'extortion'

Florida-based dive boat skippers have reacted angrily to a charterboat license law change that could cost them thousands of dollars, according to the Miami Herald.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has implemented a law forbidding any boat operator from charging customers a fee for the purpose of taking a saltwater fish for non-commercial purposes unless the boat operator has purchased a license.

License costs vary from $200 to $2,000 per year and apply to all those with customers onboard who intend to take ‘saltwater products’.

The law change comes only weeks before the lobster mini-season on 27-28 July, with dive boat operators suggesting the new law fails to acknowledge a difference between boats with divers and boats with fishermen.

Captain Jeff Torode, who operates two 35-passenger dive boats and one 12-passenger vessel, told the news provider: “The law is too vague to include us. The majority of my passengers are not resource-takers. That is not our sole purpose.

“We shouldn’t be at the same fee schedule as a person that’s 100 percent take 100 percent of the year.”

Mr Torode added that he does not intend to pay the $2,400 in license fees, and if cited, will fight it in court.

Fellow dive boat operator Dave Champagne, who operates 27- and a 42-foot dive boats at Key Dives in Islamorada, has bitten the bullet and paid $3,000 for two vessel licenses. He believes that the levy is unfair, but feels he has to pay.

“It’s kind of extortion money, but what can you do? I can’t afford to get in a mix-up with FWC,” he said.

The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) is fighting the FWC law change.

What do you think? Should dive boats be subject to a levy? Post your comment below.

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