The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has proposed an increase in license fees for the second year in a row.

The Commission voted in a special meeting on Wednesday to give preliminary approval to several increases including $2.50 for the resident fishing license, trout permit and combination trout/Lake Erie permit.

This marks the second year in a row that the Commission has sought to raise the license fee. A $2.50 increase, the first in over 15 years, was approved for 2023.

Wednesday’s action is proposed to go into effect in 2024.

The proposal presented to the Commissioners on Wednesday outlined the need for the increase.

“If new revenues are not in place for the 2024 license year, the Commission will not be able to maintain adequate levels of services to Pennsylvania’s anglers, let alone respond to angler desires for expanded efforts in many program areas,” they claim.

In addition to the license and trout stamps, increases were also proposed for other license types including senior annual and lifetime and short-term licenses for tourists and residents.

The fee increases would bring in about $2.9 million in new revenue.

“Through these modest fee adjustments, we are keeping pace with the rising costs associated with maintaining vital infrastructure, services, and programs that anglers and boaters deserve and have come to expect,” said Robert BJ Small, PFBC President and District 6 Commissioner.

“Our goal is to keep the prices of fishing licenses and permits as low as possible, while still being able to upgrade and invest in the equipment, staff, programs, and facilities, such as our fish hatcheries and hundreds of public access areas, that deliver quality recreation throughout the Commonwealth. Adjusting fees to match our business needs, when necessary, will ensure that Pennsylvania remains a destination for fishing and boating for a very long time.”

Tuesday’s action was preliminary in that a public hearing must be held prior to final action. A date for the public hearing has yet to be selected.