Delaware F.I.N. License Information

         Delaware’s Department of Fish and Wildlife recently announced they had implemented the FIN Number system for the state’s saltwater and freshwater anglers. The National Marine Fisheries Service had mandated the coastal states to have a system ready by January 2009 but Delaware was the only state to comply. The other states were granted a one-year extension to finalize the system in their states. It is to be ready by January 1, 2010.

      This numbering system is modeled after the HIP NUMBER which is used to survey hunters and their results. The FIN system requires all anglers, 16 years or older, to obtain this number each year. This includes fishermen (including retirees) who currently do not need a fishing license. They must have this number with them while they are fishing. This number becomes a part of a federal registry and will allow surveyors to randomly call anglers. The current system randomly calls residents in nearby areas where saltwater fishing occurs.

      It will allow the new federal survey system to replace the current one (MRFFS Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey), which has been widely criticized for providing undependable data.  This data is used to determine state-by-state harvests for the different species of finfish and therefore, to determine the next year’s quota.  Since Delaware recently implemented a licensing requirement for saltwater (General Fish License), it is hoped that this will meet the Fed requirements so that another Federal license will not be necessary and the funds collected will stay in state.

         There is a toll –free number (1-800-432-9228) where fishermen can provide information for their FIN number or go online at www.delaware-fin.com