National Park Service (NPS) Reverses Course on Filming
Permits Now Required By Law
Much has been said recently about the reversal that the National Park Service (NPS) has made sine late October 2022 regarding the filming and videography by content providers and individuals alike but now actual violations are being written again carrying some hefty federal level fines.
Many may be unaware but last year the courts said that individuals could in fact film in national parks without requiring any permit approval which became guidance at least temporarily but the Biden Administration has since issued its own.
“Effective October 28, 2022, the National Park Service rescinded interim guidance that was in place during litigation regarding commercial filming and has returned to longstanding laws and regulations governing commercial filming in parks. Questions and answers about filming and photography are provided below….
Federal law requires a permit for all commercial filming, no matter the size of the crew or the type of equipment. This includes individuals or small groups that don’t use much equipment, but generate revenue by posting footage on websites, such as YouTube and TikTok. The primary focus of the NPS, however, is on commercial filming that has the potential to impact park resources and visitors beyond what occurs from normal visitor use of park areas. Examples of this type of filming are productions that use substantial equipment such as sets and lighting, productions with crews that exceed 5 people, and filming in closed areas, wilderness areas, or in locations that would create conflicts with other visitors or harm sensitive resources.
All filmers, no matter the size, must comply with all rules that apply in park areas, just like other visitors. "
https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/commercial-film-and-photo-permits.htm#:~:text=Effective%20October%2028%2C%202022%2C%20the,and%20photography%20are%20provided%20below.
What does this or could this mean for all those You Tubers with Fishing Channels that fish in National Parks? Well according to federal officials expect a ton more oversight into their channels and verifications of proper permitting.
One of the most popular and new national parks is the New River Gorge with a ton of opportunities for filming as well as fishing for smallmouth bass on the New River so it begs the question how this new position by the NPS is going to impact alot of the filming done on the river especially by anglers.
Hobie Bass Open Series (BOS) has scheduled an event in 2023 on the New River and some have already raised the question to where they will not only be able to launch on the river but now film their experience if these permitting regulations are being enforced. The river runs through a wide area that is designated as part of the national park so many concerns with this are valid.
There are countless national parks in the region that offer great fishing that now come under this regulation of filming which not only impacts bass anglers but also ton so of trout streams and rivers within parks.
#troutfishing #smallmoutharmy #nationalparks #smallmouthfishing