|
SSFFF is a new, non-profit organization
made up of Party and Charter boat owners, Tackle and Bait Store Owners, Tackle Distributors, Bait Wholesalers, Fishermen,
and others whose livelihoods are dependent on a healthy and vibrant recreational fishing industry. All of these
business owners, professionals and recreational fishermen realize the importance of an equitable and scientifically accurate
management strategy for Summer Flounder.
For Board of Directors and Committee Members click HERE
SSFFF is not affiliated with any other organizations.
Our goal was to start a group devoted to a singular purpose: Saving the Summer Flounder Fishery.
However, we are working with every organization that shares and are trying
to achieve the same goal, namely a healthy and vibrant Summer Flounder Fishery.
The tremendous economic impact of this one species,
Summer Flounder, is reflected in local tackle and bait shops, party and charter boats trips, dockside and over the road
fuel sales, hotel/motel accommodations, marinas, as well as shore community restaurants and cafes. We, as participants in
the Summer Flounder fishery, know that the summer flounder population is NOT in trouble and that current populations are substantial.
We believe that the flounder regulations we now abide by are overly restrictive and quotas are lower than they should be.
The stock assessment for Summer Flounder still needs much improvement.
We cannot
hope to keep this fishery thriving unless we act now as a well-organized group with a common agenda and a comprehensive vision
for the future! It is our aim to assure that the assessment of Summer Flounder is as accurate as it can possibly be,
and that the law has the flexibility to allow both the science and the management to be as accurate and effective as possible
while still maintaining a vibrant and healthy fishery for all fishermen, commercial and recreational alike.
Our Goals
Our
first, and most immediate goal will be to support HR 5425 which is an emergency legislative intervention that will enable stock managers a reasonable level of regulatory
flexibility. This will be done by working with the RFA, who have the structure and contacts already in place, along with the
proven ability to get things done in Washington. The commercial sector has its own lobbyists and we expect to work in tandem
with them on this issue as well. We will work with existing angling lobbying organizations and public sport fishing advocacy
groups. We recognize their significant political strengths and in-house lobbying expertise and will support every effort to
effect emergency regulatory relief that can allow our fishery to continue. The second initiative will be to continue to generate private funds for continued improvement of
the scientific stock review (Assessment) as well as now generating the new data needed to make that assessment (and all of
it's component data) the best it can possibly be. We
have already hired our own independent marine scientist(s) to generate the data needed to prove that the current summer flounder population targets and stock rebuilding deadlines,
are dangerously punitive, ridiculous in their intention and truly unnecessary! The first step was taken at the 2008 Stock
Assessment Workshop. We are now continuing to work with Dr. Maunder, PMAFS, RFA and others to address the concerns and data
poor issues that were identified at that workshop. For an update on our progress CLICK HERE for our most recent Press Release.
In order to accomplish these goals, we are asking
for your help. Right now, we need your financial support to fund the political and scientific goals. To find out how to donate
please click the link below.
|
