CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Big changes could be afoot at the state Fish and Game Department, including a new name and more fees for hikers, saltwater fishermen and canoe and kayak paddlers.

A legislative audit says the cash-starved department needs to increase efficiency, look for more federal funds and find ways to get revenue from those who never cast a line or shoot a rifle, but who nevertheless benefit from the department’s wildlife and waterway management and search-and-rescue services.

The department traditionally has been funded by fishing and hunting license sales and federal funds – but little or no state money. It has struggled in recent decades as license sales have flattened or declined. Last year, the department asked for $3 million in state funding.

Instead, Gov. John Lynch and the Legislature told the department to tighten its belt while the Legislative Budget Assistant audited its performance. The audit was released Tuesday.

It makes 30 suggestions, many of them requiring law changes. Department officials say they support 27 of the suggestions at least in part, and Acting Executive Director Donald Clarke said department officials will work with the Legislature to enact the recommendations.

The audit suggests the department change its name to the Fish and Wildlife Department, citing a study that showed 45 percent of New Hampshire residents watch wildlife, while just 14 percent hunt or fish.

It also suggests some staffing changes, limiting the power of the Fish and Game Commission and enacting a number of reforms in the way the department buys, maintains and assigns fleet vehicles.

The public would be most affected by proposed new sticker fees for canoe and kayak paddlers and licenses for salt water fishermen. In department comments included in the audit report, the department notes that it would like to propose a $15 salt water fishing fee.

Last year a legislative committee recommended against passing a saltwater fishing license, and the House si scheduled to take up that recommendation Wednesday.

The audit did not put a figure on the paddlers’ sticker.

Since most search and rescue missions involve hikers, not hunters and fishermen, the audit suggests the department look for ways to get some revenue from them. It suggests a voluntary hiker fee or giving the department a share of state rooms and meals tax revenue, since most lost hikers are from out of state.

The audit also suggested the Legislature broaden a law allowing the department to charge missing people for the cost of their rescue. Currently rescuees must have acted “recklessly” to be charged. The audit suggests the Legislature broaden the law to apply to those who were “negligent.”

The department concurred, writing that it “would enable the Department to consider billing in cases involving people who were clearly unprepared; for example, hiking with summer clothes, no lights, little food or no emergency gear in October, but who claimed to have been unaware of the risk.”

Between 2002 and 2007, the department conducted 822 search and rescue missions, at a cost of $1.5 million. The department billed five of the rescuees for reckless behavior and collected about $7,600.

AP-ES-01-15-08 1648EST