Photo Caption: (L-R) New York Sportfishing Federation board member Phil Curcio, alongside Kathy and Paul Risi of the party boat Tradewinds from Captree, join Senator Charles Schumer, and Federation President & Managing Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance Jim Hutchinson, Jr. at Point Lookout for a press conference on October 19.  (Photo courtesy of www.joellucks.com).

 

 

NEW YORK SPORTFISHING FEDERATION 2009-2011 BOARD MEMBERS

 

Federation Officers

President                            Jim Hutchinson, Jr.          (jhutchinson@joinrfa.org)

Vice-President                 Chuck Hollins

Secretary                             Jeffrey Leavitt

Treasurer                            Tom Wallace

 

Federation Directors

Mike Barnett

Phil Curcio

Harvey Holmes

Alberto Knie

John Malizia

Reed Riemer

 

June 25, 2009 - The New York Sportfishing Federation (Federation) announced its new Board of Directors for the 2009-2011 term as official Delegates voted unanimously on a slate of 10 board members.  Returning for another term on the Federation Board are Capt. Mike Barnett, John Malizia, Harvey Holmes, Reed Riemer, and Jeffery Leavitt.  New Board members voted in by official Federation Delegates included Phil Curcio, Chuck Hollins, Alberto Knie, Tom Wallace, and Jim Hutchinson, Jr. 

In their first meeting at the Bob Sweeney Sportfishing Education and Aquaculture Center in Babylon on July 23, the Board of Directors officially voted in a new slate of officers, effective immediately.  Former Executive Editor of The Fisherman Magazine in Shirley, NY and now Managing Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) Jim Hutchinson was elected new Board President, while long-time Long Island Beach Buggy Association (LIBBA) delegate and representative of the New York Fishing Tackle Trades Association (NYFTTA) Chuck Hollins was tabbed new Vice President. Tom Wallace, a representative of Atlantis Anglers and certified public accountant by trade, was voted in as Treasurer, while Jeffery Leavitt was elected to his second term as Federation Secretary from an at-large seat.

Established in 1981, the Federation is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of sportfishermen in the New York marine district.  With approximately 30,000 supporters and members throughout the region, Federation members have historically been active on all levels of government while promoting sound conservation efforts within the sportfishing community. Some of the newest members of the Board of Director are also some of the more recognizable names within the New York sportfishing community, which members feel will provide a great level of balance in upcoming Federation efforts.  “With the newly appointed slate, I think we’ll have a chance to make a difference,” said Al Knie, a regional representative of RFA, and member of NYFTTA.  Knie said it’s his goal as Federation Board member to “promote our fishing industry during this tough economic times,” while adding “more importantly is to unify as many organizations as possible for better fishery and access.”

As a charter captain from Freeport and representative of the United Boatmen, the Codfather’s Capt. Barnett said his own expectations as second-term member of the Board of Directors were to “straighten out the mess the NMFS has created for the New York fisherman by supporting any and all legislation available to make the unfair practices that are in use, such as the faulty statistic taking, and antiquated quotas that have been plaguing this fishing industry.”

Hutchinson said the RFA will provide a valuable link to the federal side of fisheries politics by spearheading lobbying efforts in DC, while back at home in New York the Federation can continue to concentrate on the local issues impacting saltwater anglers. “Since both RFA and the Federation are recognized as political action organizations, there’s a lot we can accomplish cooperatively in Albany and on Capitol Hill with regard to the rights of sportfishermen,” Hutchinson said.

According to Malizia, former Director and Vice-President of the Federation, those collaborative efforts could pay off by getting the Federation “to its original status of a representative of sportfishermen, especially the New York state marine district.” Malizia added he’d like to see the Federation become more active in future representation on both the state’s Marine Resources Advisory Council (MRAC) and the regional Mid Atlantic Marine Fishery Management Council (MAFMC).

Moving forward, the Federation announced that the 28th Annual Sportfishing Forum and Auction was scheduled for February 12-14, 2010 in Freeport, Long Island. More details were to be announced in the coming months as the Board begins holding regular meetings.

Regular meetings are held every on the second Tuesday of each month at the Sweeney Center at Cedar Beach Marina on Ocean Parkway at 7:30 p.m.