I am writing to you as President of the New York Sport Fishing Federation neither because I know fisheries management is definitely not your number one priority nor should it be.

However, at this time we are faced with a crisis in the downstate region of New York.  Speaking on behalf of the recreational fishing community around New York City and Long Island our activity (recreational fishing) contributes $1.3 billion dollars to the local economy.    

We are threatened by the probable passage of the current Magnuson-Stevens Act in the House of Representatives. We need some flexibility in the wording of this act or our fisheries (which are all improving due to compliance with conservation measures and regulations) will be shut down.  The first to be impacted will be our summer flounder or fluke fishing but the other species will follow.  The laws imposed to manage the fisheries are working and are all well intended.  The data used to determine quotas etc. is extremely faulty.  This spring NOAA (NMFS) recognized this as a result of its in depth and independent study that determined the data collection system is “grossly inaccurate and “extremely flawed”.

 Following the letter of the law based on “errors” of estimates will ruin commercial fisherman as well.  The impact will help cripple these industries from North Carolina to Massachusetts.  We in New York are not in this alone.  We have been sacrificing year after year with these regulations; complying as we see our fish stocks (biomass) continue to increase.  We will not let our sacrifices be in vain.  Concerned, law-abiding conservation minded fisherman both recreational and commercial will not be legislated off the water because of bad scientific data that no one is prepared to fix.

 We recognize there are many environmentalists who believe fishing is destroying the ecology and it is a cruel activity. We don’t agree.   Our organization and others have contributed to developing better fish habitat.  You should take a look at the beautiful reef system they have developed in New Jersey.  We reach out to different communities and sponsor “Teach a Kid to Fish Activities”. Since 1981 we have taken thousands of children fishing and we continue to do so.  We do this as volunteers, we teach fishing, conservation and the value of the marine resources.  We have developed a new program to bring fishing to more inner city children and we have always brought our program to children with developmental disabilities.  Families that fish together turn out children who become more civic and conservation minded.  Taking away this activity during our summer will negatively impact the quality of life for thousands of New Yorkers.

 Economically our activities, recreational and commercial, that involve bait and tackle shops, charter boats, party or head boats, piers, beaches tourism and its’ related activities are an intricate part of our life in the marine district of New York.

 We are faced with the possibility of thousands of lost jobs and lost revenue.  Our economy will definitely be affected negatively.  This process has started to occur already and is accelerating having been exacerbated by tighter and tighter regulations.  Business is off over 25% and charter boats and tackle shops are going out of business or are for sale everywhere.

 For the first time ever all of our organizations are joining forces and we will to be heard from.  We will not go away.  Our numbers are in the millions and we need some help.  You, our elected officials are in a position to provide that relief.  We are counting on you to save our jobs, our recreational activities and our way of life.  We hurt no one.

We keep thousands of youngsters off the streets and away from drugs, etc.  I know thousands of my colleagues who have volunteered their lives to protect these fisheries.