Fishermen to March on Washington!!!! Feb 24 2010!!!

Site Admin Joined: Mar 07, 2008 Posts: 1636

Fishermen to march on Washington

Recreational and commercial fishermen, support business owners, families, and community leaders will gather at the steps of our nation’s Capitol on Feb. 24, 2010, from noon to 3 p.m. to show Congress a united front against the unintended impacts of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act.

Be there to support real science-based management and the conservation of our marine resources as well as the sustainability of recreational and commercial fishing activities. Details TBA.

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 5:12 am Post subject:

UNITED WE FISH and FISHING MATTERS!!!!

Conservation Cooperative of Gulf Fishermen 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
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Fountain 34 CC
"Devils Rejects"

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:27 am Post subject:

Is this really happening or is it hearsay?

Site Admin Joined: Mar 07, 2008 Posts: 1636

^ That news release is straight from National Fishermen. Here's another:

For Immediate Release, December 14, 2009:

We wish to correct the date for the March on Washington that was announced on December 10, 2009.

The previously announced date was February 17, 2010. Preliminary information indicated that congressional leaders would be in Washington on that date but we have since learned that was incorrect as that is a holiday week for legislators and they will be back in their respective districts. The correct date for the event is FEBRUARY 24, 2010. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and encourage you to attend the meeting.

Recreational and commercial fishermen, support business owners, families, and community leaders will gather at the steps of our Nation’s Capitol onFebruary 24, 2010 from noon to 3 PM to demonstrate against 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 staytuned 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.

Site Admin Joined: Mar 07, 2008 Posts: 1636

One more from the horse's mouth so to speak:

An email from a Maine girl working with the CCGF in Florida....she wrote this to Capt Stanman in NC:

My name is Amanda Odlin from Maine. We are working with CCGF out of Florida (they are organizing the protest). Bob Zales is in charge of this group. He did a great Flotilla rally one week after ours in Gloucester, Ma. I believe it was assessed at over 10,000 people between land and water (250 miles of coast). He is definitely dedicated. We have aligned ourselves since Oct. I am also working on the Agriculture end of support. Hope you can make it and please spread the word far & wide.
Thanks,
amanda

Note-10,000 fishermen from 250 miles of coastline.

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:45 am Post subject:

You think the commercial and recreational fishermen will create riots against each other while there? Rolling Eyes

I think this is the stepp in the right direction though. Little local Destin protests won't get the job done, but a national show up in D.C. just might turn heads the right way.

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:26 am Post subject:

When is the bus leaving?? i'll be on it. i havent fished much this year due to the closures. if i cant keep snapper and amberjack to put dinner on the table whats the point of me fishing. i also have no doubt in my mind that this coming together as fishermen in our nations capital we will conquer defeat and help destroy the panhandle save our sector bullshit with the EDF groups.

Fin Addict Joined: May 22, 2009 Posts: 165

I for one will drive up there. If anyone else wants to go maybe we can car pool. I have a Tahoe LTZ and it holds 7 plus bagage. I am in who else wants to live a boston tea party. Contact me if interested in going. And now is the time for the congress to hear me in person. Gene

Site Admin Joined: Mar 07, 2008 Posts: 1636

^ That car pool is a great idea! I don't wanna drive in DC & last time Scott drove in DC he took somebody's side mirror off. Anyway I'm game for a car pool, Scott has to ask his boss for a few days off, maybe they'll let him off

Fin Addict Joined: May 22, 2009 Posts: 165

There is two of us going as of now. Room for 4 more. We are going to make hotel reservation the end of next week. Plan on being there the day before and leaving the day after. Gene

I hooked myself! Joined: Mar 13, 2008 Posts: 87

Site Admin Joined: Mar 07, 2008 Posts: 1636

crap I forgot about his wedding. but that may be a good timing thing.. hmmm. yeah we could drop the dogs of with my mom & its 4 hours to washington from their house. sounds like a plan......

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 4:29 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info blue. Please post the updates as you hear. I have informed my gangs to keep that week free. we'll be heading that way.

Fin Addict Joined: May 22, 2009 Posts: 165

We now have a car load going. Before you leave to fly or drive. Pass me you cell numbers. Maybe we can meet up there and have a sign or banner from the gulf coast. There is strength in numbers. Gene
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we never know but we always go

Site Admin Joined: Mar 07, 2008 Posts: 1636

Press Release from the RFA:

FISHERMEN TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON
"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.


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