Earth is a wet planet. Water makes up more than 70% of the earth’s surface and is home to far more vertebra than the dry portions (Brown 1). That being the case, fishing has been around for a long time. There is evidence that the Chinese developed the first fishing rod, but fishing actually dates back to Bible days (“Fishing” 2). In Genesis 1:20-21, “God said, let the water teem with living creatures…so God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing which the water teems…” (New International Version). Then again in Matthew, Jesus feeds large crowds of people with fish people brought with them to hear Him speak (Matt. 14.13-21 & 15.29-39). So the question is raised, should people have to have a fishing license to be able to fish? Evidence shows, a fishing license not only protects the fish population but helps insure the fisherman a catch in the future as well. Different states pretty much have the same reasons for charging a fee to fish. Anyone who is 16-64 that wants to fish with a rod and reel and use artificial bait must have a fishing license issued by the state they are fishing in. The state of Alabama spends 100% of their license fees on management, protection, and education about Alabama’s natural resources. The license fee also helps Alabama gain matching funds from the federal government to support the “protection and enhancement” of Alabama’s water resources (“Licenses” 1). Florida, on the other hand, uses their license fee to “provide optimum sustained use of Florida’s fishing resources” (FAQs 2). The money generated from licenses also goes to help the federal government, which in turn compensates up to 75% of the costs borne by the states for fish conversations and management programs.
There are things that could happen if people were allowed to fish without a license. Back in the 19th century, people didn’t need a license to go throw their fishing pole in a nearby body of water and catch whatever or how much they wanted, but there weren’t as many people in the world either (How Stuff Works 1). As the number of humans has grown, there has been a gradual decline in the fish population. Pollution and other environmental stressors on fish populations are common causes but over harvesting by commercial fishing fleets is one of the main causes (Brown 2), as well as poachers taking more than they can or will ever use (How Stuff Works 2). The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has