United Boatmen Joins SSFFF in MRFSS Challenge

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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 11, 2009
United Boatmen Joins With the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund to Challenge MRFSS Landings Data

United Boatmen has joined forces with The Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund (SSFFF), the nonprofit organization formed in New Jersey to seek scientific and legislative solutions to the crisis facing those whose livelihoods depend on a healthy and vibrant recreational summer flounder fishery, in SSFFF’s challenge of the 2009 Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Surveys (MRFSS) landings data for Summer Flounder.

SSFFF has initiated an in-depth analysis of the landings numbers generated by MRFSS in response to angler and fisheries business owners’ anger at yet another year of the unrealistic and unexplainable assertions made by MRFSS.

“The fact that MRFSS has once again come up with landings numbers that do not reflect reality should not come as a surprise to anyone,” said Greg Hueth, president of the Shark River Surf Anglers and one of the founders of SSFFF. “Nevertheless, these statistics MUST be challenged and a more accurate picture of landings in the Summer Flounder fishery must be taken if we are to avoid more unnecessary restrictions,” Mr. Hueth said.

Recognizing that any review of MRFSS data will mean searching through angler intercepts of all species, United Boatmen has joined with SSFFF to expand the review to include Scup and Black Sea Bass.

“In light of the ridiculous landings numbers for Sea Bass and the unprecedented closure of a rebuilt, healthy fishery based on those landings numbers and the existing quota, a review of the landings numbers for both Sea Bass and Porgies (Scup) is most certainly warranted,” said Capt. Ed Yates, owner of the charterboat “Hunter” and member of United Boatmen.

“The fishing community of anglers and the businesses that service them have accepted severe restrictions in many fisheries over the years in the hopes that once rebuilt, those fisheries would offer the opportunity for anglers and businesses alike to both enjoy them and prosper from them.” said Capt. Tony Bogan, President of United Boatmen. “Instead, as our fisheries like Sea Bass and Scup are rebuilt, we continue to see little change in fisheries regulations and even more severe restrictions as is the case with Sea Bass as a result of, amongst other things, flawed recreational landings statistics. This situation can no longer be tolerated and must be challenged,” said Capt. Bogan.

Recognizing SSFFF’s singular goal of dealing with the sensible management and sustainability of the Summer Flounder Fishery, United Boatmen has decided to assist in the review of the 2009 MRFSS Summer Flounder landings data and its expansion into other fisheries.

United Boatmen is a nonprofit organization comprised of party and charter boat owners and tackle and bait store owners and others whose livelihoods are dependent on a healthy and vibrant recreational fishing industry. Its mission: “United Boatmen is an organization that has been fighting for the interests of New Jersey Party Boat, Charter Boat and Tackle businesses, their patrons, and the fisheries that we enjoy and prosper from for over 30 years.
Viable, healthy fisheries with sensible management practices benefit everyone.”

More information on United Boatmen can be found at its website, www.unitedboatmen.com.