LETTERS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY FRIDAY, FEB 19TH AT 5 PM to be sure they are delivered on this visit.

Businesses that rely on fishing-

We need letters from business owners affected by recent and pending fishing closures, submitted in a word document or pdf. so we can personally deliver your letter to each legislator we visit.

It is preferable to have it on your business letter head.

  Submit your letter to jobs@thefra.org for inclusion in our submission package.

The letter should lead off with information regarding your business including:

type of business

number of employees

years in business

personal information (own a boat and fish, etc)

Also mention what closures do to your business.

Sample of introduction below:

Dear legislators:

My name is_____  I have lived in CITY/STATE for XX years.  I own XYZ business name.  We have been in business since 19XX.  I currently employ X people, down form my peak of X in 2006 (or best year).  I fish the species in question and am concerned that fatally flawed data is causing the closure of healthy fisheries.  We should be expanding fishing opportunities for recreational anglers, not eliminating them.

Closures force me to eliminate more jobs.  It is highly possible that my business will not survive the closures and reductions.  It would be heartbreaking to close my business.  No fishing equals no need for boats, equipment, tackle (which generates an excise tax), loss of desire to live near the water and more.  Based on fatally flawed data and questionable science?  Please help us.  You can save us from the unnecessary economic devastation and job loss. 

SUGGESTED BODY OF LETTER:

I add my voice to those who raise issues with our current fisheries management system.  Closing fisheries that appear healthy simply because of the uncertainty caused by fatally flawed data and questionable science is wrong and will cost us dearly in jobs and economic activity as well as our very right to fish.

Current estimates of the fatally flawed recreational data system show recreational fishing effort at or near record levels, which is in direct contradiction of the marine community and marine economy’s indication that fishing effort is significantly lower than four years ago.  Is it the intention of Magnuson-Stevens to base closures of healthy fisheries on the uncertainty of such fatally flawed data? 

With the best intentions, the Magnuson-Stevens Act was reauthorized.  Those best intentions are about to have the unintended and unnecessary consequences of economic disaster.  Please help me to preserve our heritage (and my job) and keep the NMFS from destroying our fisheries through the use of uncertainty and fatally flawed data as ‘best available science’. 

Fishing matters to me.  Fishing should matter to you.  Constituents from your state will be coming to Washington DC February 22-25^th and many will be visiting you personally.  Please listen to those people who deliver my signature to you, as they bear my message that FISHING MATTERS TO ME.  They also will ask for your help in crafting solutions that will protect my fisheries and my right to fish from unnecessary restrictions. 

Please join your constituents for a history-making rally of fishing interests on the steps of the Capitol on February 24^th, 2010 at Noon.  Your presence will be noted for all to see. 

 I ask that you hold NMFS accountable for their inaction and that you mandate the repair and functionality of the fatally flawed system before any further closures or restrictions are put in place.

Righting a wrong will save jobs.  You can prevent JOB LOSS and ECONOMIC DEVASTATION from becoming Magnuson’s legacy.  Please help us.

Respectfully,

Name

Title

Business Name

Address

Phone

Email address

website

  Submit your letter to jobs@thefra.org for inclusion in our submission package.

RETURN TO FISHING MATTERS TO ME page