Around New England

Vermont Sees Uptick In Fishing

May 6, 2020

With few entertainment activities available to the public amid the coronavirus emergency, more Vermonters are turning to lakes, ponds, and rivers.

The state sold about 8,000 more general fishing licenses from the beginning of the year to the end of April 2020 than it it did in the same time period in 2019, according to New England Cable News. That represents a 58 percent increase over what the state had sold at that point last year. Additionally, the number of youth fishing license sales increased by 450 — a 62 percent increase over last year’s figures at the same point.

“I also think people have a lot of interest in procuring their own food,” Louis Porter, the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife, told New England Cable News.

Porter told New England Cable News that the fishing licenses serve a purpose because the revenue helps pay for conservation.

In Vermont, an adult fishing license for a state resident is $28. A youth fishing license for someone ages 15 to 17 is $8. No fishing license is needed for Vermonters under the age of 15.