Found this looks like they need some help again.
The Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund was started seven years ago by a group of concerned East Coast anglers and is governed by a board of directors comprised of recreational fisherman, Captains of for-hire fishing boats, and members of the fishing tackle industry. The SSFFF*has no political affiliations and is neither a recreational nor commercial fishing lobbying group. Our Mission Statement was and continues to be, non-political.* The main focus is the simple premise that improved fisheries science funded by SSFFF will ultimately lead to better management decisions and more equitable access to the stock for all user groups.
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To date, SSFFF has spent in excess of $130,000 of donations and grants to fund research and to influence the creation of more refined stock assessment models specific to Summer Flounder. SSFFF-funded research was responsible for sex-specific mortality being included into the last stock assessment. This revealing information was submitted by renowned stock model scientist Dr. Mark Maunder in a white paper that was exclusively commissioned and funded by SSFFF. Additionally, SSFFF was instrumental in preventing the potential closure of the Summer Flounder fishery six years ago.
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Now SSFFF is involved in funding the next step in the quest for more accurate science. In pursuing this effort, we have teamed up with Fisheries Science veteran Dr. Patrick Sullivan, who is collaborating with Rutgers University and Cornell University on another more intensive research project.* When completed, this new and comprehensive initiative will shed more light on the stock size and how to best create a refined assessment model that accurately portrays the state of the Summer Flounder fishery. We hope to present this information at the next Peer Review, which is expected sometime in 2017 or 2018.
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There are several different SSFFF-sponsored projects currently underway which will strive to include detailed sex-structured information into the next NMFS Stock Assessment. SSFFF recently funded a parallel project with Dr. Daphne Munroe and Jason Morson of Rutgers University that is designed to collect information on sex composition and discards of recreational fishermen on the East Coast. This additional study will be incorporated into a sex-specific stock assessment being developed by Dr. Sullivan.* *Both projects are critical components of the creation of the new stock assessment model in time for the next NOAA Peer Review.
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Please read the attachment for more information about this very important project, as it is desperately needed to ensure that all user groups continue to maintain equitable access to the currently healthy summer flounder stocks.* Without better management tools*the Summer Flounder quota will most likely see drastic and devastating cutbacks in the near future! **
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Until this point, SSFFF has operated primarily on donations from private parties and has not received financial support from any groups or organizations.* The recent critical projects involve additional costs and now we desperately require assistance! Simply stated, we require funding to complete the above study and we are contacting you today to ask for support. We are seeking to raise $15,000 by the summer of 2016, and with strong backing we are confident we can reach this goal. We do not expect one group to fund the entire amount, but are hoping that multiple strong contributions will propel us towards full funding. The total project cost is $60,000 and SSSFF has already committed $15,000 towards that. A combined group from the commercial sector is donating $30,000, leaving us just $15,000 short of the total cost. By banding together with other stakeholders, we can fully fund this project and make significant strides in assuring a strong fishery with fair public access for years to come.
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Our scientists, Daphne Munroe, Jason Morson, and Patrick Sullivan, would be happy to discuss this project with you in more detail to provide you with a better scope of the undertaking. We understand that this is a lot to comprehend, but it needs to be done to assure long-term health for the summer flounder fishery and to build a science-based quota for both the commercial and recreational fisheries. *
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In closing, it is important to affirm that the SSFFF continues to meet its goal of spending every single dollar donated in pursuit of its mission – to provide the best available fisheries science from the best available scientists to aid NMFS in managing the Summer Flounder fishery. Please consider helping this project reach its completion. Checks can be made payable to SSFFF and be mailed to us at P.O. BOX 86, Brielle, NJ 08730. Your support will help provide good Summer Flounder fishing for generations to come.
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With regards and thanks,
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The Board of the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund
