Whoops! Saltwater licenses sold before Gov signed bill

State environmental officials have stopped selling new saltwater fishing licenses, after realizing the bill creating them still awaits the governor's signature.

State lawmakers approved the bill on June 3 and the Department of Environmental Protection began selling the "marine waters fishing licenses" for $10 apiece two days later.

Officials say the DEP sold about 2,800 of the licenses before discovering its error and shutting down the sales. The DEP will wait to see if Gov. M. Jodi Rell signs the bill before issuing refunds, if needed.

The governor's office is not saying whether she'll sign the bill, which would require an estimated 100,000 people to get annual licenses to fish in Long Island Sound.

A DEP spokesman says staff members made a mistake, but had good intentions.