FISHERMEN TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON, DC

[CaptTB]

FISHERMEN TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON, DC

For Immediate Release, December 10, 2009:

Recreational and commercial fishermen, support business owners, families, and community leaders will gather at the steps of our Nation’s Capitol on February 24, 2010 from noon to 3 PM to show congress a united front of the impacts caused by the unintended impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act as revised effective January, 2007 (RMSA). The overly restrictive management requirements created by the RMSA based on non scientific arbitrary deadlines are forcing anglers off the water, eliminating commercial fishing, preventing consumers from purchasing locally caught fresh seafood, destroying small family businesses, increasing unemployment, and adversely affecting coastal communities.

We fully support real science based management and the conservation of our marine resources while also being able to sustain recreational and commercial fishing activities, providing locally caught seafood, sustaining small family businesses, and supporting our coastal communities. Please stay tuned as the details are being developed and will be provided. Make your plans to join us for this historic event and work with us in a United effort from coast to coast.

UNITED WE FISH and FISHING MATTERS

CCGF urges all elected officials to work together and to join the efforts by the leaders of other coastal states for the best interests of our coastal communities and the Nation.

This effort is being coordinated by many organizations and individuals including but not limited to CCGF, RFA, FRA, United Boatmen of New York, United Boatmen of New Jersey, MSSA and more to be announced.

CCGF is a 501(c) (6) non profit that represents recreational for-hire vessel owners and operators, supporting businesses, and recreational anglers from the Gulf of Mexico

[IrishAyes]

Great idea. I am in.

[ped579]

Me too,  maybe we could get a bus to fill up...

[IrishAyes]

I would be all for getting a bus. Would have to find a central location for all who go. 

[Kenny]

Schedule permitting I'm in...

A bus would be the way to go for sure


Central location....

Belmar   

[IrishAyes]

Belmar works for me. Let's see how many we can get.

[Kenny]

Belmar good works for me as well..........

[CaptTB]

DATE UPDATE!!!!!

The march is on the 24th of February, not the 17th. Since the congressional schedule no longer has members in over the presidents Day break (originally we were under the impression it did) the date is now the 24th.

As an added bonus, the 17th was Ash Wednesday, so no conflicts with the religious holiday either.

[IrishAyes]

Thanks for the update. 

[Hotrod]

 

[ped579]

 

[ReelFun]

I WILL be there. Keep me informed about transportation to DC. I will drive if I have to for this VERY important date.

CALLING ALL "SPORTSMAN".....this is a must attend rally.

[HutchJr]

"United We Fish" To Seek Congressional Support On February 24

December 16, 2009 - In a historic show of solidarity, recreational and commercial fishermen will gather together on the steps of the Capitol on February 24, 2010 from noon until 3 p.m. in an organized demonstration against the unintended negative impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the federal fisheries law which was revised in January of 2007.  Coordinating the march under the flag of United We Fish, rally organizers are hoping to see a large show of force in defense of coastal communities. 
 
"The closures keep coming and it's good to see the collective fishing communities and industries, both recreational and commercial, calling for scientific based Magnuson reform," said Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA).  "We are all in this together."  Donofrio cited recent closures of amberjack, black sea bass and red snapper fisheries as examples of what he calls a "broken" federal fisheries law.   
 
The groups organized through United We Fish are hoping to prove to legislators just how many American anglers and business owners are truly being impacted by the overly restrictive management requirements created by MSA based on non scientific arbitrary deadlines.  According to Bob Zales of the Conservation Cooperative of Gulf Fishermen (CCGF), the time-specific deadlines mandated by MSA coupled with flawed data collection methods are forcing anglers off the water.  "We fully support real science based management and the conservation of our marine resources while also being able to sustain recreational and commercial fishing activities, providing locally caught seafood, sustaining small family businesses, and supporting our coastal communities."

This effort is being coordinated by many organizations and individuals including but not limited to the RFA, CCGF, United Boatmen of New York, United Boatmen of New Jersey, New York Sportfishing Federation, Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen's Association and the Fishing Rights Alliance.  "Some people have asked 'why, it's winter'," said Donofrio who said he's gotten the required permits and expects a large crowd in DC on February 24th, regardless of weather. "We can't let seasons stop the momentum, and if we wait any longer none of us will be fishing.  Many members of Congress will be standing shoulder to shoulder with us," Donofrio said.

Nils Stolpe, a consultant to the commercial fishing industry and columnist for SavingSeafood.org said that over the past three decades since the original Magnuson Act was established, fishermen have been gradually phased out of the fisheries management process, regardless of sector.  "The scientists have been put in charge, and as the list of closures and restrictions up above painfully demonstrates, the Act has been turned into a weapon that is now being used against fishermen and fishing communities." 
 
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) first introduced the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2008 in the 110th Congress to incorporate "limited flexibility" into federal fisheries management.  More than 100 fishing groups and industry members from around the country pledged their support for the legislation and the bill's 19 bipartisan coastal cosponsors, but the bill languished during the volatile economic climate in advance of the presidential elections in November of 2008.     
 
Realizing that fisheries closures would continue without congressional intervention, in March of this year, Rep. Pallone and fellow Representatives John Adler (D-NJ), Henry Brown, Jr. (R-SC), Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), Barney Frank (D-MA), Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R-NC), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Frank LoBiondo (D-NJ), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Michael Michaud (D-ME), Solomon Ortiz (D-TX) and John Tierney (D-MA), reintroduced the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2009 (HR 1584).  Twenty-five total co-sponsors have since pledged support to date including Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Timothy Bishop (D-NY), Allen Boyd (D-FL), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Peter King (R-NY), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Jo Bonner (R-AL), John Mica (R-FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Clifford Stearns (R-FL), Donna Christensen (D-VI), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Ander Crenshaw (R-FL).
 
Following a letter-writing campaign by the RFA-NY and members of the New York Sportfishing Federation, senior Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York announced his Senate version of the bill (S.1255).  Currently, the Senate bill to correct the flaws in MSA has no co-sponsors, which is something United We Fish organizers are hoping will change in February. 
 
"New York's Senator Schumer is as concerned about his fishing constituents as he is about the fish, just as Congressmen Pallone, Frank, Jones, LoBiondo, Kennedy, Adler and others in the House of Representatives are," said Stolpe.  "Hence they have formed the nucleus of a growing movement in Congress that, in spite of the editorial opinion of the New York Times and the expenditure of many millions of dollars by the Pew Charitable Trusts, is aimed at preserving recreational and commercial fishing, the lifestyles of millions of fishermen, and the tens of thousands of businesses and hundreds of fishing communities that they support," Stolpe added.
 
Organizers from within the recreational fishing sector are hoping to get commitment from all user groups and across varied state and regional boundaries.  "This is much bigger than any one state issue or individual grievance," said RFA's Managing Director Jim Hutchinson, Jr.  "Whether it's our restrictive fluke fishery in New York, the arbitrary closure of state waters for our anglers in California, or the shutdown of red snapper and amberjack down south, our community has been divided by preservationist tactics for too long.  It's time to unite the clans in defense of our coastal heritage and traditions," Hutchinson said.
 
"We need to let Congress and NOAA know that we are the collective voice of the recreational fishing community and the collective voice does not accept the current broken management system which wreaks such havoc on all of us and our businesses," said Donofrio, adding "The goal on February 24th will be to get all of our congressional friends to attend." 
 
"At this point Senator Schumer and his Congressional colleagues in the House deserve the thanks and the support of every one of us who fishes, whether for fun or profit," said Stolpe. 
 
The United We Fish rally is set for 2/24/10 at noon at the Capitol.  For details as they become available, sign up for the RFA's email newsletter on the homepage at www.joinrfa.org. 
 

[Fishin Dude]

I heard that the SSFFF is going to try to have several busses leaving from different locations throughout the state. Not sure of the rest of the details yet.  Yes, I'm going go attend. <`[[[[><

[CaptTB]

I heard that the SSFFF is going to try to have several busses leaving from different locations throughout the state. Not sure of the rest of the details yet.  Yes, I'm going go attend. <`[[[[><

I have already secured busing for however many people we get with very flexible pickups. We have reached out to RFA and NJ MTA. Along with United Boatmen we are going to set it up so you can go to any of our websites and purchase tickets for the various locations once they are set, for the same price of course. SSFFF takes Visa and Master Card and RFA takes credit and paypal so all the bases are covered. Of course, everyone takes a check mailed in too!

Give us till after Christmas, it's kind of tough with having to dig all the boats and docks out from all this snow, getting ready for Christmas with the family, normal work load in general and organizing all this stuff too. RFA is in the middle of moving their offices so we could all use a few days to deal with the everyday and spend the time with family for the Holiday.

You'll see all the details posted shortly.

Merry Christmas everyone (in advance!)

[IrishAyes]

Thanks for the info Capt.

Merry Christmas to you and your family. Enjoy the holidays. 

[Fishin Dude]

CaptTB, that sounds Fantastic! Any idea on cost per person yet? How about printed a Shirt included with the bus ticket to raise a few dollars for the cause?

Rod, I'm kicking around a few ideas for some attention getting signs. (I already know what you are thinking, "Holy crap, him and the Obama thing"  ) but no, I'm more geared towards the fishing regulations thing. If I come up with some "Media Attention" sign ideas, can I put a NJSWF.COM Decal on the lower corner to both call attention to our cause as well as attention to our site?   Kick it around and let me know. If not, I can always print them myself.        <'((((><