Good article on fishing seasons and the RFA

[Rhettley]

Good article on fishing seasons and RFA
http://http://www.newsherald.com/opi....195659?page=0

Recreational anglers fight for right to fish
By
Published: Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at 08:00 AM.
During the weekend of Aug. 23 at the 17th annual MBARA kingfish tournament, a reef
was dedicated to Congressman Steve Southerland, R-Fla., for his unending work for
fishermen and the Panhandle economy — and for all fishermen in the United States for
that matter!
The reef dedicated to Rep. Southerland was donated by Bill Mulligan and Nate Odum,
their families and the Mexico Beach Marina as a testament to the work being done by
our “Forgotten Coast” congressional fishing champion.
Rep. Southerland also stopped by the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) to show his
support for the organization and the work that the RFA is doing in Washington (with the
help of Southerland and other congressmen) to get our fishing seasons back. Of
course, this work has made Rep. Southerland a target for the people in organizations
such as the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Pew Environment Group, Oceans
Conservancy and others, including a national political action committee called Oceans
Champions based in California. These groups are working to take away our right to fish
by giving away the resource to a select few fish barons who are directly backed by the
environmental organizations (EDF in particular).
IRS records show that EDF and its political action committee (EDF Action Fund) have
invested close to a million dollars during the past 3½ years establishing their own
fishing organizations, including the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders Alliance, as
well as the Gulf Fishermen’s Association and South Atlantic Fishermen’s Association.
Why? In an effort to manipulate the public and legislators into thinking that privatizing
our public marine resource is in the best interest of the public.
Essentially, the money is being spent to take away our natural resource — the fish —
and divvy it all up among a few well-connected individual fishing quota (IFQ) owners. In
fact, EDF has recently gone public with its belief that “fish tags” should be purchased by
all fishermen, commercial, charter or head boat operators, even private anglers.
Thanks to a new program that has already been pushed through the Gulf Council and
NOAA by the EDF, our snapper seasons will be even shorter this coming year and the
next. They are giving a portion of our red snapper to a select few head boat operators
to fish for year round, while the rest of us fishermen get a 27-day season. Why do we
stand by like lambs being led to slaughter and just accept these atrocities? We have to
join together and fight back, or soon we will not be fishing at all.
Imagine what Panhandle fishing will look like in the future when the average angler will
be forced to purchase a “share” in order to go out and catch a snapper or grouper and
possibly any other popular species of fish down the road.
In spite of the EDF-backed push to stop recreational fishing as we know it today, RFA
is working closely with Rep. Southerland and others in Washington to stop this effort dead in its tracks.
RFA is expanding on both coasts of Florida now. Representing the
Gulf Coast is Capt. Buddy Bradham in the Tampa area and the chairman of Florida
West Coast RFA and myself chairing our Forgotten Coast efforts in the Port St. JoeMexico Beach area.
Nationally, the RFA is represented by board member-elect Nate Odum of Mexico
Beach Marina, as well as Panama City resident and longtime RFA Board member
Jamie Wilkinson (along with fellow Floridian Jack Holmes of the Southern Kingfish
Association). Together, we are working on gathering fresh ideas for fishermen to build
a group large enough to have the loudest voice on Capitol Hill.
Much the same as the National Rifle Association is for the Second Amendment, the
RFA was founded as a political action organization designated a 501(c)(4) with a
singular, unchanged mission to protect the rights of saltwater anglers and recreational
fishing business owners, while also ensuring that there are plenty of fish.
We want our fishing seasons back. That’s why RFA Florida is asking fellow anglers in
the state to join the RFA today, to help keep Rep. Southerland in office, to beat back
the environmental groups who are trying to take away our public resource, and to fight
for our right to fish in America’s saltwaters.
CAPT. TOM ADAMS
Chairman
Forgotten Coast Chapter
Recreational Fishing Alliance
Port St. Joe

[SS-342]

At times, things like this makes me happy I'm 72 years old with little time to be here. What is our Country/World coming too?

Always some one stirring the pot for control of things we have always taken as RIGHTS for everyone to enjoy.

Thanks for letting us know!

[Flint River Pirate]

Good read...