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| RFA News
Recreational Fishing Alliance May 24, 2010 |
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RFA - First For Anglers Since 1996! | |
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DEEPWATER TRAGEDY DEALS DEVASTATING BLOW TO GULF OF MEXICO FISHING COMMUNITIES
Since the tragic oil spill at the Deepwater Horizon site on April 20, RFA staff has been in close contact with members and allied organizations in the Gulf region. "There's very little we can do right now except pray, keep lines of communication open and work with our legislators to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again," said RFA Executive Director, Jim Donofrio.
 In recent years, RFA and other groups were led to believe that mandatory safeguards now utilized on oil platforms had made offshore drilling a safe and ecologically sound way of producing domestic oil. "After Hurricane Katrina, we were assured that the technology was up to speed, but that is clearly not the case. The Deepwater Horizon tragedy illustrates that substantial improvements need to be made to ensure that marine resources and fishing communities are protected in the event of a spill," Donofrio said.
While clean-up efforts are now underway throughout the Gulf, RFA members on the ground are also researching legal avenues for making up the revenue and income losses resulting from this devastating spill. There are more than enough news outlets covering the Gulf disaster, but if you're interested in staying up-to-date on tracking information, Dr. Mitch Roffers has set up a Deepwater Horizon oil spill monitoring tool that uses QuickTime tracking. Also, Florida State University has created an oil spill forecast model using available wind drifts and surface currents.
"There are still great fishing opportunities in the Gulf, and I'd encourage RFA members to keep that in mind when making upcoming plans," Donofrio said. Those interested in charter fishing opportunties in the Gulf should call Capt. Bob Zales at the National Association of Charterboat Operators (NACO) at 866-981-5136. |
NOAA THROWING ANGLERS UNDER THE OMNIBUS
The RFA officially submitted comments this week with regard to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) attempt to bring management plans in line with Magnuson-Stevens requirements by setting up acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures. The RFA says that implementing reactive measures like midseason closures and recreational paybacks which are included in the so-called Omnibus Amendment would be illegal based on the "fatally flawed" Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey System (MRFSS) still being used to determine recreational harvest.
 "MRFSS was not designed nor intended to collect data in a timely or accurately enough manner to meet the demands of the Omnibus Amendment," writes Jim Donofrio in his official comments on behalf of RFA members. "Doing so with the current MRFSS would violate no less than 5 of the 10 National Standards." RFA argues that NMFS failure to make the congressionally mandated improvements to MRFSS provides MAFMC "full justification to postpone moving forward with the recreational component of the Omnibus Amendment" until MRFSS is fixed. |
STRIPED BASS UNDER ASMFC ATTACK
 Despite RFA protest, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) this month voted to include a proposal to increase the commercial striped bass harvest within Draft Addendum II for public hearings. "This decision is a slap in the face, and it contradicts all empirical evidence that shows that we should be doing more to protect the striped bass fishery from an illegal, and unreported striped bass fishery," said RFA's Jim Donofrio. Click here to read the full release.
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RFA LEGAL DEFENSE SOLICITS INDUSTRY SUPPORT
In an open letter to the national tackle manufacturers and wholesale distributors, the RFA is seeking industry assistance in the ongoing legal challenge against NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Local businesses and individual anglers have raised more than $27,000 over the last seven months for RFA Legal Defense Fund for efforts to overturn the black sea bass closure and set a precedent to ensure that NMFS can't make similar midseason closures in the future. "Your tackle shops have gone to bat for you in this effort - your customers who buy your products have footed most of the bill. The grassroots community is leading the charge," the RFA said in a personal appeal to tackle industry professionals for help. Click here to see who contributed to the RFA Legal Defense Fund so far, and how you can help. |
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RFA LOUISIANA CHAPTER BUILDING MOMENTUM
A Louisiana bill aimed at banning bowfishing for redfish was pulled by its sponsor the day before it was to be heard in committee.  Louisiana members of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA-LA) had been extremely vocal in opposition to the bill, and as RFA-LA member Gregory Jack noted "This represents a huge win for the sportsmen of Louisiana." RFA said the bowfishing ban was pushed at the behest of the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana and former Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jimmy Jenkins and would set a very dangerous ideological precedent in Louisiana fisheries management. Click here to read the Houma Courier's report. |
| RFA'S NORTHERN FLORIDA CHAPTER IS LAUNCHED
The North Florida chapter of the RFA (RFA-NOFL) launched earlier this year with a new board and slate of officers that many Jacksonville area anglers will no doubt recognize. New RFA-NOFL State Chairman for 2010 is Rick Hale, longtime owner of Rick's Seafood, Bait & Tackle on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville. Hale helped spearhead the launch of the new RFA-NOFL chapter to help build grassroots support for the rights of saltwater anglers and business owners in northern Florida. "We are ready to put our charter in full swing, and already have a group in place that is very serious about this fight and feel very strong about their political views," Hale said. In addition to Hale, the rest of the RFA-NOFL Board is made up of Ron Langston (Vice Chairman), Charles Millett (Membership), Rick Smallwood (Treasurer), Keith Secor (Secretary) and Joe Dionne (Media Chair). "We have a lot of work to do in DC, particularly with the fishermen's rally on February 24 to get the Magnuson Stevens Act fixed, so having Rick and the crew in place down in Jacksonville today helps immensely in safeguarding angler rights tomorrow," said Jim Donofrio, RFA Executive Director. To contact the RFA-NOFL chapter, email bait48@yahoo.com. |
RFA-TX ENDORSES GOVERNOR PERRY IN 2010
Gov. Rick Perry has received the endorsement of both the Texas and national chapters of the RFA for re-election in 2010. "The Recreational Fishing Alliance is proud to support Gov. Perry in his bid for re-election," said Robert T. Healey, chairman of the RFA Board of Directors. "Gov. Perry has proven himself a strong ally of sportsmen by his willingness to stand up for the right of Texas anglers and speak against unnecessary, burdensome regulations coming out of Washington."
 "At a time when the federal government has adversely affected more than one million Texas anglers through shortened seasons and bag limits, Gov. Perry's ongoing support speaks volumes of his commitment to Texas anglers," said Jim Smarr, of RFA-TX. "We are especially grateful for his leadership in aligning other Gulf Coast governors to support the federal Flexibility in the Magnuson Act and are proud to endorse him in his bid to continue leading our state," Smarr added.
"Recreational angling is an important part of Texas' economy and culture," said Gov. Perry. "I look forward to continue working with the angling community to find practical solutions to the challenges they face and helping ensure the reasonable regulation of their industry. I'm honored to receive their support in this election." Learn more about the RFA-TX at Texas RFA chapter website. |
RFA-CA STILL ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN MLPA WARS
 Just prior to the implementation of a massive new no-take marine reserve off Stewarts Point in Sonoma County, Jim Martin, West Coast Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA-CA North), joined members of the Kashia Pomo Tribe in a historic ceremony to bless the area held sacred by native tribes for centuries. The new reserve is the largest in a network of 21 marine protected areas (MPAs) that took effect on May 1 along California's north central coast under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative. Recreational anglers and seaweed harvesters showed up in solidarity with the Kashia Pomo and other tribes that are being denied their fishing and gathering rights. "It was inspiring to see so many people come together," Martin told the San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center. Click here to read the full story from IndyBay.org. |
RFA-SC CHAPTER GAINS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
The South Carolina Chapter of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA-SC) is running strong in the second quarter of 2010. The RFA-SC chapter's inaugural Board of Directors includes recreational angling advocates from South Carolina including Stuart Ballard, Capt. Mark Brown, Wes Covington, Tim Gredick, Joey Prochazka (ex-officio as national RFA Board Member), Capt. Fred Rourk, Chris VerBurg and Jason Ward. This week, RFA Executive Director Jim Donofrio will be in South Carolina meeting with the RFA-SC Board, and is expecting more great things from the chapter. Last month, RFA-SC made national headlines when the World Fishing Network (WFN) picked up RFA-SC efforts gain support for state legislation aimed at protecting recreational fishing and access to public waters from any federal decisions within the Administration to disregard recreational fishing as a national priority. Click here to read the WFN report online. |
RFA-NY MEMBER WINS TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
The RFA would like to congratulate Joe Grosetto of Bayshore, NY, the 2009 winner of the RFA Trip of a Lifetime. Executive Director Jim Donofrio pulled Grosetto's name from the chest filled with several thousand entries in this year's Trip of a Lifetime. With travel issues relating to the original trip to Guatemala, Mr. Grosetto will instead be traveling this year to Krog's Kamp in Alaska on the Kenai River. Congrats Joe, and be sure to send pictures! |
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RFA OFFICIAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
(April 22, 2010)
(April 16, 2010)
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 The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. RFA's Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries.
For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit www.joinrfa.org.
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