Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis announced today that with the opening of the 2004 fishing season on Saturday, May 29, a new park fishing permit fee structure will be implemented to meet visitor demand for a short, multi-day permit. Fishing fees will also be increased to help offset the increasing cost of the fisheries management program in the park.

Fishing permits include a three day permit for $ 15.00 (angler reports indicate that the average park angler fishes approximately 3 days), a 7-day permit for $ 20.00, and an annual permit for $ 35.00. Anglers 15 years and younger will continue to fish for free. Previously, fishing permit fees were $ 10.00 for a 10-day permit and $ 20.00 for an annual permit. The new fishing permit fees are in line with what surrounding states charge for their fishing permits-an average of $ 10.00 a day for a short-term, non-resident permit and $ 60.00 for an annual, non-resident permit.

The fish permit fee increase will be used to enhance and ensure the viability of the park fisheries management program and allow for implementing new fisheries programs. Fisheries management activities include the removal of nonnative lake trout from Yellowstone Lake, exotic aquatic species monitoring (whirling disease and New Zealand mudsnail), monitoring fish populations, native fish restoration, water quality monitoring; fishing permits, enforcing fishing regulations, explaining park fisheries program to park visitors, creel surveys, boat and dock maintenance, and cost of fuel.

Park fishing permit fees have been charged in the park since 1993, with the last fee increase occurring in 1996. All fishing permit monies stay in Yellowstone for use in defraying the costs of fisheries protection and management.

Information provided by the NPS