In Portugal a sea angling license will be applicable from 1st January.
My Portuguese contacts inform me that the government has complied with
the pressure originating from the Commercial Fishing Lobbies.
According an EFTTA member the money from the said licence is going towards a fund for retired commercial fisherman. Anglers and tackle trade in Portugal continue fighting both the sea license and that the money from licenses are allocated a fund for retired commercial fisherman.
Now, as far as I'm aware, it isn't April Fools' Day (or somemething similar) in Portugal. Doubtless, once established in Portugal, some bright spark will decide it's be a good way to tax anglers here to pay for the pensions of our retired commercial fishermen.
Do anglers want to see this happen here? I very much doubt it. A licence fee might be OK if we had something tangible in return before any such move was put in place - effective and well enforced protection/conservation legislation, for example, assuming that the rod licence fees went to fund it.
I'll bet you one thing, every angler in Portugal will be joining some movement to try to oppose this........