I would have liked to have thought this was true but in this day and age with the type of governments that we have - it's just a dream.
PH there is one difference between our recreation and the others you have mentioned
"FISH" !..... it might only be a minor thing but it's probably worth considering.
Our pastime really doesn't exist without them - does it ?..
For me it can. Fishing can quite easily exist without fish . Additionally we (if we wish) get to take something home to feed our family at the end of a day out .
So $30 or whatever to me seems like not a lot of coin to ensure that we still have a recreation that is worth pursuing .
For all the money that we spend on this pastime - tackle , boat's , tow vehicles , fuel , bait - Travel (accommodation) I just cant see why we would not want to put something back that will benefit a vast majority of us - the equiv of 2 blocks of pilchards , 3 pkts of soft plastics or 20lts of fuel is all worth foregoing !
I dont know about you but I want to know that if I just go up the river or tow my boat 2000km (each way) that it's going to be worth while.
Chris