 April 2009 Newsletter |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Letter from the President Ladies and Gentlemen of the NCWU,I sit here today on one of the few beautiful days we have experienced since last fall. We have had a major 1-2-3 punch this past year. The economy has been in a downward spiral; the price of fuel has been through the roof; we have had a bad stretch of weather since last summer, and we have suffered through outside organizations like Audubon and Environmental Defense restricting access. As I take a quick look at the year in review, I am amazed once again at the versatility and adaptability of the fishing community. I am also amazed at our lack of an “I told you so” attitude. Three-and-a-half years ago, we told the state and the feds that we were seeing a smaller than acceptable growth pattern emerging. We were vociferous about the fact that we needed to adopt a cautious approach to policy that would be a negative economic incentive, and we needed to push to open our access to resources that were plentiful. Our arguments fell on deaf ears as we flew through the last of the “boom” times. Reality has now set in, and we are all in the same boat. Negative economic factors are affecting everyone in our community, our state and our nation. In true fishermen fashion, we have not wasted time pointing out to anyone that we warned of this a few years ago. Instead, we have just put on our blinders and gone to work. We may be going to work a little earlier, and we may work a little later, and we may work a little harder, but we are still going to work. We continue to support our local, state and federal economy at a time when many are looking for a bailout or a stimulus package. This
past year, the NCWU has accomplished an incredible amount. We hired an
executive secretary and a marketing director for fund-raising, and we
have incorporated new board members to represent all aspects of the
professional fishing community. We have written letters to the US Congress and the NC General Assembly about our cost of fuel concerns. We have opened dialogue about our lack of cell phone service at sea. We have been instrumental in forming a local commission (Commission for Working Watermen) that deals strictly with fishing issues and answers directly to our Dare County Board of Commissioners. We held a “meeting of the minds” with local Mayors, Town Planners, the Dare County Commissioners, and members from the Dare County Waterways, the Commission for Working Watermen, the Boatbuilders Association, the Home Builders Association, the Restaurant Association, the Hotel/Motel Association, the Tourist / Visitors Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce. The number of letters, emails and phone calls the NCWU has made for you, our members, is staggering. Many of our board members make calls and attend meetings – all without compensation. We don’t expect payment, but we do ask for ONE commitment from you. Please pay your dues. Join the NCWU and spread the word about what we are doing for you. We are waiting for the final report on our Economic Impact Study; you were all involved in having the study done; it is the most comprehensive and largest one ever undertaken – not just in the state, but in the nation. Preliminary results show that the impact we have on the economy of the state is staggering. We are going to institute a few changes in our new website. The site is awesome, and the impact has been immediate. We are going to list our Charter and Headboats that join as Regular members and provide links to their sites. We are going to do the same with Industry members. Supporting the people that support us is more important than ever. Conversely, we need to be wary of those that work against us and our goals. NCWU Members, we have finally accomplished some victories. We have gotten a dedicated dogfish quota that will be expanded this year. We have a voice on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). We have another Dave County man on the state Marine Fisheries Commission. We have two names submitted - one for the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council SAFMC) and one for the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC). We have entered a new realm of dialogue with our local and state elected officials and with our North Carolina officials elected to the United States Congress. All of these things have started paying dividends. Gamefish status for certain fish species, dual enforcement and Limited Access Privilege Programs (LAPPs) have been defeated. We are now working on criteria that would be needed to enter the Charter Industry. But we have plenty left to do, folks. I don’t see us going back to the old days of just going to work and not being politically involved. I look forward to the challenges ahead, and I am still honored to represent you. Keep your head up, and keep swimming. We win the war one battle at a time. Standin’ by, Shack info@doghousesportfishing.com
New MFC Member I was born and raised in Manteo. I joined the Coast guard in 1972 and retired in 1997. I now work full time for the Dare County Public Works. I always wanted to run a Charter boat when I retired, but I had to change my plans. That’s a story for another day… I was recently appointed to the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission to fill a recreational slot. I have accepted this appointment with an open mind and a real desire that all fishermen can work toward one common goal, and that goal is the protection of the resource. The resource is for both recreational and commercial fishermen to use and enjoy as long as the stock is healthy. I look forward to working with all of you and being your voice on the MFC. Thank you. Edward Lee Mann edwardlee@darenc.com
Happy Hour Fundraiser The
Happy Hour Fundraiser for the NCWU, held March 31 at Hurricane Mo’s at
Pirate’s Cove, was a BIG SUCCESS! We had a heavy appetizer buffet, live
remote with Beach Radio 104.1. and Jodie O’Donnell acted as master of
ceremonies. Everyone had a FUN time – and an opportunity to learn more
about the North Carolina Watermen United. Each of the first twenty-five
people in attendance got a license plate with the NCWU logo as a Door
Prize. With the generous donations of gifts and gift certificates from local businesses, it took more than two hours to give away the Raffle Prizes. NCWU sends out a big THANK YOU to all the businesses for their generosity in helping us raise almost $1000.00 to support our cause – Protecting Your Freedom to Fish.
Watch for news about our next fund-raiser. Plan to meet your friends, have a great time and support our fishermen! Robbi Viveiros Marketing Director robbiofncwu@yahoo.com
|
||||||||||||||||||
Email Addresses To
keep our membership up-to-date on current Fishery news, we send emails
and forward other information as we get it, sometimes two or three or
four times weekly. It is important that we have your email address.
Please send updated email addresses and websites to
melbancwu@charter.net.
2009 Membership Dues Invoices have been mailed for the 2009 Membership dues. Please submit your payment as soon as possible. This can be sent to NCWU PO Box 536 Hatteras, NC 27943 If you did not receive your invoice, please email robbiofncwu@yahoo.com. |
