December 2010 Newsletter

Letter from the NCWU President

Merry Christmas, Men and Women of the NCWU!

I would like to thank each of you at this time, for supporting our organization and passing the word along to your family, friends and neighbors about the hard work that we have been doing to “Protect Your Freedom to Fish.”

The work we have done, and the work we will continue to do benefit not only you, but others, because the dollars and jobs you bring to our coastal communities, this state and the nation are invaluable.  It is more than just dollars and cents, and this has become increasingly evident during the economic downturn.

Although money has been very tight for everyone, there is a golden lining on the dark cloud. The simple truth at the heart of NCWU’s work is that we - the watermen of North Carolina - are very important contributors to the economy, and we need to continue to have access to the fishery resources that are paramount to the jobs and the financial contributions we make to our communities. The importance of NCWU’s work – our “labor of love” – is becoming clear to the lawmakers who have our future in their hands, and each day we see more of them awakening to the plight that we are in because of foolish laws and over-burdensome regulations.

Although we see a light at the end of the tunnel, we still have much more work to do. The radical extremists that want to deny us the right to work have not relented, but I have optimism that truth will overcome the lies that “prop up” special interest groups. As we have looked down the barrels of programs like Catch Shares, Annual Catch Limits (ACLs), Accountability Measures (AMs), closed areas (MPAs) and rebuilding schedules that are contrary to what we see every day out on the water, we have seemingly been overwhelmed by the fight. Take heart! The truth is slowly becoming apparent. The fog of hypocrisy that shrouds special interest rhetoric is starting to dissipate, and we will continue to expose these lies. We can’t do it without you, and we hope the things we have put in place the past year to keep you up-to-date on everything we do have helped you follow along and allowed you to better support our message.

Speaking on behalf of myself and the NCWU Board of Directors, we are proud to serve you, and we always try to be available to you.

It has been a difficult fall fishing season, but things are coming around. This past week has seen the fleet spread out. There have been resources available to our charter/headboat, recreational and commercial men and women. We pray for a great winter for everyone, and more than anything I pray that you each have a wonderful Christmas Season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior that makes it all worthwhile. Have a safe, happy prosperous New Year!

Holdin’ On!
Shack
info@doghousesportfishing.com

Blessing of the Fleet 2010
CATCH SHARES UPDATE NCWU continues to work in opposition to the implementation of a National Catch Shares Policy. The first phase was to be for the Commercial Sector fisheries, but on November 4, 2010, a plan was also released regarding Catch Shares for the Charter/Headboat Sector. Catch Shares for the Charter/Headboat Industry would dramatically increase operational costs with the requirement of extensive paperwork and the use of observers for the daily collection of all catch data. Another goal of Catch Shares is the reduction of the size of the fleet; this would not only devastate Charter/Headboat  owner-operators, but would also affect all related businesses, e.g., marinas, boatyards and bait-and tackle shops. NCWU added recent Catch Share information to our website; Go to www.NCWU.net; Click on Resources. NCWU ran informational Ads on Catch Shares in four inland North Carolina newspapers – the Raleigh News & Observer, The Charlotte Observer, the Winston-Salem Journal and the Asheville Citizen-Times - on consecutive Sundays, November 21 and November 28, 2010. The impact of the ads has been overwhelming, not only in North Carolina, but on a national level. Catch Shares is a very real threat; NCWU has formed a Sub-Committee to continue net-working with other groups on a National Level to oppose the implementation of Catch Shares. If you are interested in serving on the Sub-Committee, please get in touch with one of our Board Members or email melbaNCWU@charter.net.		Save These Dates for 2011 North Carolina Watermen United Fund Raisers Manteo     Tuesday, April 12, 2010     Pirate’s Cove  Dockside Restaurant Hatteras        Monday, April 18, 2011    Sonny’s Restaurant Atlantic Beach    Wednesday, April 27, 2011    Capt Stacy Fleet Marina FOOD!  FUN!  RAFFLE PRIZES! For more information email robbiof NCWU@yahoo.com
Blessing of the Fleet 2010

Summary of NCWU Projects – 2010

Supported Opposition to Catch Shares

• Formed Sub-Committee to work on a National Level with other groups against Catch Shares (Dec)
• Attended SAFMC Meeting in New Bern; spoke against Catch Shares (Dec)
• Sent Thank You to Senator Hagan for the presentation at SAFMC meeting (Dec)
• Ran informational ads about Catch Shares in Raleigh News & Observer; The Charlotte Observer; Winston-Salem Journal; Asheville Citizen-Times (Nov 21; Nov 28)
• Updated NCWU website with information about Catch Shares (Nov)
• Sent letter (for a collection) to support Rep Jones letter to the House Subcommittee on Commerce re: language to restrict NOAA’s use of budget funding for LAPPs and Catch Shares – cc to Burr, McIntyre, Bordallo, NCWU Membership (June)
• Emailed all 11 Senators on Senate Commerce Committee for NOAA Budget Review; Emailed all 17 Senators on Senate Appropriation Subcommittee for NOAA Budget; Worked with Rep Jones Office to contact all 13 Reps on House Commerce Committee; Faxed all 23 Members of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans & Wildlife –*NCWU Opposition included in Official Meeting Record (June)
• Joined sub-group, Fishermen United Against Catch Shares (April)

Supported Opposition to Amendment 17B

• Sent comments in opposition to 17B to SAFMC (Oct)
• Sent letter to Governor Perdue asking for state support of Opposition to Amendment 17B;  cc to Tate Johnson; US Congress – Senators Burr and Hagan; Reps Jones and McIntyre;  NCGA – Senators Basnight and Preston; Reps Hackney, McElraft and Spear; NC 20 (April)
• Sent Thank You letter to Senator Burr and Representatives Jones & McIntyre for letter to Secretary of Commerce asking for SAFMC to reconsider the closing of the EEZ (June)
• Signed SAFMC petition, “Don’t Shut Down Healthy Fisheries” (June)

Supported Opposition to Amendment 18A

• Sent comments in opposition to Amendment 18A to SAFMC (Oct)

Supported Flexibility in MSA (S1255 and HR1584 )

• Attended United We Fish Rally in Washington DC on February 24, 2010-One bus from Avon, two from Manteo, two from New Bern Over 5000 people at Rally from  ME, MA, RI, NY, NJ, MD, DE, NC, SC, GA, FL, TX, CA, AL
• Sent information to Coastland Times (Feb)
• Issued a Special NCWU Newsletter with Rally information for Membership (March)
• Sent Thank You to Senator Hagan, Rep Jones, Rep McIntyre for speaking; to Senator Burr for after-rally meeting ; Sent Thank You to other 16 Senators and Reps who spoke at Rally (March)
• Requested  Support for S1255 and HR1584 from all others in NC Delegation (March)
• Sent copies of letter to Governor Perdue, Senator Basnight, Rep Spear (March)
• Wrote letter asking for state support of Bill to Governor Perdue (March)

Opposed ESA Listings –

• Atlantic Sturgeon (Dec)
• Bluefin Tuna (Oct)
• Loggerhead Sea Turtle (June)

Added two Members to the Board of Directors; One in June 2009, One in June 2010

Increased Membership

• Added 76 New Members in 2010   
• Had Booth at Day at the Docks (Sept)
• Had Booth at Hatteras Grand Slam Tournament (July)
• Held Membership Appreciation Socials in Manteo and Hatteras (April)

Sent Letter of Congratulations with NCWU Economic Impact Study information to all Senators and Representatives after Election (Nov)

Joined Opposition to National Park Beach Closings (May)

Joined Opposition to Commerce/Interior Proposal to include Cape Hatteras in National System of Marine Protected Areas with Dare and Carteret Counties (April)

Joined Opposition to the Ocean Task Force’s Draft on Marine Spatial Planning (Ocean Zoning) (April)

Kept Membership informed about all above actions and –

• All MFC and SAFMC Meetings
• Seafood Safety/Toxic Seafood
• Diesel Emissions Reduction (Nov)
• Ethanol Issue (Oct)
• Jones/EPA Lead in Tackle Issue (Oct)
• Tax on Recreational Services on Navigable Waters (Nov, June)
•  Gulf Oil Spill (June)

NCWU wishes you and your family
a very Merry Christmas
and
a Happy New Year !