Guest angler levy - Anglers from other federal states are asked to pay
Anglers from other Federal States will be asked to pay the fishing fee in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the future. They are required to pay the fishing fee, even if they have already done so at their main residence in their Federal State. This is what the new Fishing Law of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which the Landtag passed in Schwerin without opposition on a Wednesday, stipulates. The SPD and Linke factions introduced this new revenue source in the committee discussions on the draft law.
Significantly more revenue is expected
The additional revenue is estimated to be around €600,000 per year - according to the current information, the local anglers are reportedly spending €900,000. In the future, approximately €1.5 million will be available annually from the fishing fee for the maintenance of waters and stocking with young fish.
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the fishing fee currently amounts to €10 per year according to the Ministry. Anyone who does not have an angler's permit and wants to fish in MV during their vacation has had to buy a tourist angler's permit for €24 for some time, which is valid for 28 days. The fishing fee is already included in this according to the Ministry, so nothing changes there.
Justification: Other Federal States are doing it too
The step is justified by the fact that Schleswig-Holstein introduced a fishing fee for anglers several years ago who have already paid a fishing fee in the same calendar year in their Federal State of residence. Hamburg introduced a fee for guest anglers in the context of the recently amended Fishing Law. North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria are planning this.
The law brings about further, smaller changes. The angler's permit can be shown digitally during a control. In addition, young people must identify themselves when they fish and present their angler's permit during a control.
- Despite protests from Anglers from other Federal States, they might need to pay the fishing fee in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania during their leisure time in Schwerin, as Parliament has passed a new Fishing Law similar to the one implemented in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg.
- During recent committee discussions on the draft law, the SPD and Linke factions proposed the introduction of a fishing fee for anglers from other Federal States, justifying it by the additional revenue it could generate for the maintenance of waters and stocking with young fish, much like what Parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Parliament has now implemented.
- Fishing enthusiasts from other Federal States visiting Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania should be aware that almost all Federal States are considering implementing a fishing fee for tourist anglers, similar to the €10 annual fee already in place in MV for local anglers, as a means of generating additional revenue and ensuring the preservation of fishing resources in their leisure time.
