Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

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

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

I'm in on this protest maybe we should make a list to see who's going.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

I'm in how about some buses

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

All in !!

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

in

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

lets go
we need t shirts

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Great concept but ...Feb 17 lets ask the weatherman, 5 degrees, blowing 25, snow and ice. Im all for it but I dont think it will attract the show of force necessary to make our leaders any more aware orresponsive. Im a very positive/can do person but there are factors here you cant control.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

What about in the mean time,can you or someone else Tony post a list of emails or letters that we can forward from like say this website or somewhere we can start everyday hammering these elected officials from each state about this crisis?Cant hurt if we all start hammering them everyday with letters from all of us.Not sure how to go about it.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

I'm in no matter what the weather !!!!!

FISH ON !!!!!:cool:

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Let's all get on board for this. Time to help make a difference.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Bus Triphttp://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...erin/upjpg.jpg

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

This is beginning to sound better nothing like a good old fashion protest.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Capt TB I posted your Post on a few major fishing websites even on some of the websites from the West Coast. That would be something if they would join the fight. I think this may get some steam rolling I only hope it does.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

As Captain Ron says " it's put up or shut up time"
I'm in I will need a ride either someone's car or a bus will to share gas or pay for the bus fare
if anyone needs me to be involved drop me a e-mail I have the time and willing to make calls or what ever it takes!
I'm ready!! I'm not doing this for me it's all about the Grandchildren and the next generation!! or maybe even next years fishing season!!
lets all get involved !!

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

I am in for a roadtrip

MVP

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Great concept but......

Whatever dude. People will have their reasons for going or not going, that's cool. Fact is there is no time to wait for a beautiful mid-summers eve with light tropical breezes to do this.

If we wait till spring there will be that many more people out of business or going further down the tubes. We wait till summer people will be on vacation or fishing or whatever. We wait....well you get the point. There are always factors you can't control and if you wait for everything to be perfect you'll be waiting forever, going up against another protest on a different topic that might be more mainstream (since many of those kinds of issues wait for the "right" time as you suggest)

It's now or never and if people cannot get off work that is totally understandable. No one can be at everything, every time. If people do not wish to go that is understandable too, these types of things are not for everyone, and I'll count you among them and move on. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to stand in the cold after driving for hours, I'd rather not do it but feel it is needed and necessary.

To those asking about posting more info, etc., I will gladly do so when I get the boat that is in drydock back home, which will hopefully be Monday. I am out of touch from 4:30am till 6:30pm every day so I only have a couple hours each night. Have my kids B'day tomorrow then home (hopefully) from drydock Monday then after that I am all yours (sort of;) )

Please stay tuned, LOTS more to come with this one!

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Keep posting info,I'm in.like the shirt idea,if I can help with organizing in any way let me know

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Why not pic a colder day to have a march?

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Yawn.... See my previous post. Shall we wait till everyone is out of business and there are few if any other species to fish for before we march?

If people don't want to go because it is cold outside then so be it, everyone has their reasons for doing or not doing whatever it is they do or do not do.

The point is it is now or never, the clock is ticking. Looking at your handle, and having a 13 year old son, a father-in-law and a cousin who are avid bowhunters, I would ask if you only hunt on the sunniest, warmest days of the season? If so, then I would not recommend coming to the D.C. in February, it might be cold out:rolleyes:

If there is truly any resolve amongst the businesses and fishermen to fight for what we believe is right, the timing should be as soon as possible before more damage is done, not when the temperature hits a certain level :D
http://www.mmob.biz/images/Miss_the_Boat.jpg

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Put a second line on that quality 't'

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Nice Joe, Teamwork will get it done!

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE GUYS FROM CAPT RONS FISHERMAN FOR TURNING ME ONTO THIS FORUM (RON, ROBBY, CHRIS) I HAVE BEEN FISHING ALL MY LIFE ( ALL 33 YEARS OF IT AND THAT MAY BE LESS THEN SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS HERE BUT I REMEMBER WHEN WE USED TO HAVE FLUKE IN THE COOLER EVERY WEEKEND AND NOTHING TASTES BETTER TO A 9 YEAR OLD THAN EATIN SOMETHING THAT YOU CAUGHT WITH YOUR DAD WELL NOW IM THAT DAD AND THIS MORNING AS I WAS LEAVING THE HOUSE AT 4:30 AM ON A SUNDAY MY SON ( 3 YEARS OLD) WAS AWAKEN I TOLD HIM I WAS GOING FISHING AND HE SAID " HAVE FUN DADDY AND BRING SOME FISH HOME TO EAT" IT MADE ME THINK THAT ONE DAY THE ONLY FISH I BRING HOME FOR MY FAMILY WILL BE FROM WEGMANS OR SHOPRITE THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN ALL CONTRIBUTE AS YOU CAN SEE I GO BY THE NAME SHIRTGUY ( THATS WHAT CHRIS CALLED ME ONE TRIP) BUT THE TRUTH IS I DO HAVE A SIGN/ SHIRT SHOP AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO WITH MY RESOURCES I AM GLAD TO PITCH IN ( i WORKED WITH THE NJOA WITH A COUPLE JOBS IN THE PAST YEAR)

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

I'm beginning to get inquires from another board about this. I'm referring everybody to this post.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Frank and Palone have put together a meeting of East Coast law makers to discuss MS act.

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/fishi...ces_printstory

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

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.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Recreational Fishing Alliance

Contact: Jim Hutchinson, Jr. / 888-564-6732

For Immediate Release

December 16, 2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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. [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=11028905311...I6-TjMPDWog==]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Does anyone want to make a call for the buses? It is a tuesday which is tough for me but i am going to make it a point to get on this and get down..

If there is any need for transportation let me know and i would be happy to make some calls and coordinate it!


Even if i cant make it i would run the bus end if needed..

let me know.. hope i can make it!

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

SPortfish, several groups (including UnitedBoatmen and SSFFF) are working on arranging buses. Gimme a week or two or until right after Christmas and we'll have a LOT more details up.

Also, the 24th is a Wednesday, not a Tuesday.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

DATE UPDATE!!!!!

The march is on the 24th of February, not the 17th


LOOK AT THAT!!!You did find a colder day!!!

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

See that? Where there's a will there's a way!:D

Notice you still have not had anything positive to say. Are you planning on going if possible? If you cannot go, have you talked to others about it and about going?

We need all the help we can get, and we are all trying to help each other, so any help you can offer (and not just you, but everyone) is greatly appreciated.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

I Fish In The Cold And Rain I Will March In The Cold And Rain

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Hell yeah....thats what I'm thinkin.....:D

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

i'm going to try to go too, sounds like a good february trip

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

I don’t want to go if it’s too cold! I don’t want to go if it’s too hot! I don’t want to go if it’s too windy! I don’t want to go if it’s too flat! I don’t want to go if it’s too crowded! Do you think you will have enough to go?

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Never saw you not go when it was to windy!!!

Anyway I never said I wasn't going.I just said it is going to be cold.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

I can picture it now.... 1/2 the bus filled with recreational fisherman the other 1/2 filled with commercial fisherman. Each side arguing about who's fish they are going to fight for-:)
OR maybe this is the opportunity for both sides to get along?.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Just a quick FYI:

Got off the phone today with Academy Bus, they are offering us an EXCELLENT price (thank you Mark & Francis) for buses to the Capitol for the 24th.

I am working with SSFFF, United Boatmen, RFA-NJ and others from NJ to coordinate the pricing, pickup location etc., so all the details should be up after the weekend.

I am posting this now before the details are finalized just to a) keep this topic up top and b) so people know that literally in a matter of days they will have the ability to go online to either SSFFF.net, unitedboatmen.com or joinrfa.org to purchase a spot on a bus. (all groups take checks of course and SSFFF and UB take visa/master and RFA also does paypal so all bases are covered)

Gimme a few days to coordinate with Hutch, Adam, Dave, Jim, Greg, etc. and all the gory details should be up on all websites early next week.

Spread the word for people to keep their eyes open for the details after the weekend and let's get things rolling. (again, pickup location will be part of the announcement!)

Thanks again to Mark & Francis Tedesco (spoke to Mark, gotta give his brother props too!) of Academy Bus for helping make this a reality. Not just the support and awesome price, but the willingness to pick up anywhere we decide and whatever we need in the way of buses!

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

Tony,

Thanks for keeping us up to date, the amount of work you all are doing is above and beyond. Just let us know so we can all make arrangements to be available, no matter what the weather.

Re: Fishermen To March On Washington, Dc
 

I'm in, I'm sure my dad is in, as well as all of my friends and family - whether they like it or NOT! Dress warm, people!