JOIN THE RALLY IN DC

[JIG JERK]

JOIN THE RALLY:

There is a grass roots effort to impress upon Congress that the Magnussun -Stevens reauthorization act passed a couple of years ago and forcing National Marine Service to abide by strict re-building rules for many recreational and commercial species of fish are causing considerable unfavorable hardships on both the commercial fishing industry and the recreational fishing industry, coastwise.

There are bills that have been introduced this year in both Houses of Congress to put more flexibility in the M_S Reauthorization act; a flexibility that does not exist at present.

There are bus loads of concerned recreational and commercial anglers staging a march on Washington on Wednesday, Feb 24th, 2010.

Busses are coning from all corners of the North East and South.

A free bus has been chartered by the VA Beach Sport fishing Center and there remain open seats. If interested, one can call the V A Beach sports fishing center for reservations or information. 757-491-8000

There is also a free a chartered bus being provided by Wanchese Fish Co in Hampton and anyone wishing to go on the Wanchese Bus should telephone

Betsey Crockett at 757-728 0600



Bob Allen VCAC & PSAWSFA Hampton Va

My phone is 869-0157

For additional information visit the website: UNITED WE FISH

[jackdaniels]

Fishermen's Jobs Don't Count?
Saving bankers' jobs costs billions of tax dollars, saving the jobs of fishermen will be at no cost to the taxpayers, the fish or the environment.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of commercial, recreational and party/charter boat fishermen and people in businesses depending on them from Alaska, both coasts and the Gulf of Mexico have united under the banner of the Preserve Fishing Coalition to support federal legislation introduced by New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone and New York Senator Charles Schumer and 26 co-sponsors. The Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2009 (HR 1584 and S 1255) will relieve fishermen from the onerous and totally unnecessary rigidity in stock rebuilding timeframes that have been added to the Magnuson Act by the successful lobbying of activist environmental organizations funded by multi-billion dollar foundations with strong corporate connections.

The Coalition, an ad hoc group started by 14 fishing organization leaders, is coordinating a fishermen's rally on the steps of the Capital starting at noon on February 24th and is collecting signatures on a web-based letter thanking the Act's sponsors for taking the critical first step in returning independent fishermen to their rightful place in the fisheries management process.

The letter will be presented to the legislators at the rally.

From the letter, "the intent of the Magnuson Act as originally passed specifically included fishermen in the management process to balance the lack of precision in fisheries science with their on-the-water experience. That imprecision is still and will always be with us, and independent fishermen's participation in the management process should be as well."

The letter also focuses on the ongoing marginalization of fishermen in the media and the public eye through the foundations' extraordinary ability to promote the campaigns of the anti-fishing activist organizations and "a handful of recreational and commercial fishing organizations" that they have subsidized.

According to Nils Stolpe, one of the organizers of the Preserve Fishing Coalition, "the rigidity in regulations is inflicting untold economic damage and human suffering on fishing families and fishing-dependent businesses up and down our coasts. Why? To have a stock rebuilt to some arbitrary level a year or two earlier. No difference to the fish, a huge difference to the fishermen, and another trumped up campaign to swell the treasuries of the so-called marine conservationist organizations."

Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance and another organizer, questions the fact that, in this period of great economic strain, "the Obama Administration is on a path that will put additional thousands of people out of work when a minor relaxation of the rigid rebuilding requirements, making virtually no difference in fish conservation, would save most of those jobs. We're bringing that message to Congress for millions of fishermen and tens of thousands of fishing and fishing dependent businesses."

Details about the rally are available at http://www.unitedwefish.com/ and the letter/petition at http://fs16.formsite.com/FixMagnusonNow/form793561462/.

[jackdaniels]

Recreational Anglers Unite!!!
Washington D.C. - U.S. Capitol
February 24, 2010
12:00 - 3:00 P.M

MSSA Members:

On February 24th, 2010 the MSSA, along with many other sportfishing organizations from all over the country, and thousands of anglers will arrive in Washington D.C. on the steps of our Capitol to bring attention to the mismanagement and poor policy decisions regarding our fisheries.

The RFA is leading the way with this rally and the MSSA has been asked to be a major participant as we are the largest sportsfishing group in proximity to Washington. I would encourage all our members to take part in this rally and fight for our sport. Below you will find some specifics on how to get there and where to meet. Also you will find a brief description on what we believe to be part of the solution and why we are heading to Washington.

ESPN Article
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/s...ory?id=4845513

HOW DO I GET THERE?
Train to D.C.: MARC train system - Baltimore Penn Station - $7.00
Drive to D.C.: Select the link for directions and map location - driving directions - There is parking at Union Station - $15.00
Bus to D.C.: Ocean City Bus: MSSA Atlantic Coast Chapter will be chartering at least one bus from Ocean City for this event. If you are in the OC area please contact Budd Heim for more details 410-208-912.
WHERE DO I GO?
Washington Union Station - All MSSA members will meet in front of Union Station next to the three (3) US flag poles at 11:00 A.M. From there we will walk to the U.S. Capitol. If you plan on going straight to the Capitol, the rally is in Upper Senate Park - map location

ASK YOUR CONGRESSMAN TO JOIN YOU!
Please contact your Senators and Representatives and ask them to support SB 1255 and HR 1584 and join you in support of recreational fishing on February 24th, 2010 12:00 (noon) - 3:00 PM - Upper Senate park, US Capitol

Senators:
Ben Cardin - 202-224-4524
Barbara Mikulski - 202-224-4654

Representatives:
Frank Kratovil - 202-225-5311
C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger - 202-225-3061
John Sarbanes - 202-225-4016
Donna Edwards - 202-225-8699
Steny Hoyer - 202-225-4131
Roscoe Bartlett - 202-225-2721
Elijah Cummings - 202-225-4741
Chris Van Hollen - 5341