EXTRA! EXTRA! NCWU will be running Ads on Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27, 2013 in the Raleigh News & Observer explaining our opposition to HB 983

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1 May 2013 Newsletter EXTRA! EXTRA! NCWU will be running Ads on Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27, 2013 in the Raleigh News & Observer explaining our opposition to HB 983 Click here to see the Ad It s Just a Hobby for Them By Melba Milak Secretary, NCWU It s just a hobby for them, but it s the way we earn our living, said Jamie Reibel, a charter boat operator from Manteo. And so, once again, fishermen and their allies from all of the coastal North Carolina communities, boarded buses, two from New Bern and one from Manteo, or car-pooled or drove trucks - this time to Raleigh on Monday, May 6, 2013 to meet in the capitol s Legislative Office Building, room 643, to present their case to lawmakers in opposition to HB983. Quiet moment for fishermen HB983 was introduced into the NCGA House Commerce and Job Development Committee on April 17, 2013 by Representatives John Bell and Tom Murry. It is called the 2013 Fisheries Economic Development Act, but referred to as the Game Fish Bill. It would designate three species red drum, speckled trout and striped bass as game fish, meaning that they could only be caught by hook-and-line anglers and not commercial fishermen. The irony in this whole process, based on data from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, is that the Recreational Sector already lands 70 to 75 per cent of the catch while the commercial industry only gets the other 25 to 30 percent. Reps Bell and Murry have included two self-serving clauses to the bill that are backed and financed by the North Carolina Coastal Association (CCA). The first would allow an individual, fishing alone or on a guided trip, to use the fish for personal use. The bill has a second section that supports the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Observer Program and specifies a payout to commercial fishermen who lose their income from the harvest of the three species; the funding would come from an increase in license fees. The third section ties the whole bill to Funding for Dredging of Shallow Draft Navigation Channels. Nearly 300 people, including charter and headboat operators, recreational and commercial fishermen, and their associate industries seafood dealers, marina and motel and restaurant owners - filled up the proceedings room. Another room on the floor below had to be set up quickly with closed circuit TV viewing for the overflow crowd. The meeting was conducted by Representative Bell with middle-school classroom rules No reactions, no booing, of course, but

2 also no applause, no kind of facial expressions, no noise with the admonishment that any disturbance would end the whole hearing. Four initial presentations started the session at 1:30 pm. Two arguments against HB983 were first. Jerry Schill, past Director of the North Carolina Fisheries Association (NCFA), spoke as a private citizen and said that the fish are a public trust, and commercial fishing families are not for sale. Second, Jess Hawkins, past Member of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries said, A small group should not be allowed to own a public trust; it would be like assigning a section of beach to a private citizen s group. Two proponents of the bill presented the CCA rhetoric, The state must use its public trust resource for the best economic purpose. Representative Murry read HB983 in its entirety and announced, Game Fish WILL happen in North Carolina, but then talked in a conciliatory manner about his wish to keep the fisheries vibrant, a different tone than one he used during an earlier meeting in March in Wanchese with three NCGA legislators, two CCA spokesmen, three commercial fishermen and a charter boat operator where Murry insolently told a commercial fishermen, You will have to re-invent yourself. For the next two hours, others who had to sign up first and then stand in lines of ten, were allowed to present their opinions, but were rudely gaveled to silence after two minutes; some of them were not even allowed to finish a last sentence. Forty fishermen and the support industries spoke. Among them - Hardy Pyler, Ocracoke Working Watermen s Association, Some legalities have been raised by this issue. We need to protect the balance between recreational and commercial fisheries. Ernie Foster, Hatteras Charter Boat Fleet Owner, Take a look at the data. The proposed monies from the Saltwater License Fees aren t coming in to the state. Dan Oden, Hatteras Marina Owner We need the income from the commercial fleet. We are on stepping stones to disaster. Allison Willis, Core Sound, Mr. Big Seafood Our customers want wild-caught seafood. The demand is always higher than the supply. Warren Judge, Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Our three sectors - charter/headboat, recreational and commercial fishermen - are alive and well. Let s not take jobs away from any of them by taking our resource from one group and giving it to another. Britton Shackelford, Wanchese Charter Boat Owner - and God said, Man shall have dominion over the fish of the sea Not the NCGA. Perry Wood Beasley Pamlico Sound Crabber - The commercial fishing industry goes back to fishing only a few days after storms and hurricanes which is very good for our economy. Kill the Bill. Browny Douglas, Dare County Republican Party Chairman The CCA is promising visions of grandeur, but the agenda is about Control. Capt Sonny Davis, Atlantic Beach Marina and Fleet Owner We re trying to make a living with our families, we don t need more regulations. Mikey Daniels Wanchese Fish House Owner Forty men joined hands this morning in a prayer circle to ask for guidance in this matter. Eleven proponents of HB983 spoke. One of them quoted the oft-used line about Saving the resource for his grandchildren, but others tripped over the CCA s own logic about whether this is an economic or a biological issue. They also cited the seven other states - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas where Game Fish Bills have been implemented, but failed to mention that none of these states has seen the promised boon to the economy. They did not mention the failure in Louisiana where the 2 Million payout promised to fishermen was only $60, because most of the funds went to enforcement, or the study commissioned by the State of Florida that cites the effects on out-work fishermen who have an increased incidence of alcoholism, drug addiction, broken homes and family abuse. At 4:00 pm, Representative Bell gave one final gavel knock to end the meeting. The fishermen, dressed up even some with blazers and ties instead of Grundens and boots - who had traveled to Raleigh on their own time and at their own expense, who had participated on the opponent s playing field and had followed all of the opponent s rules and who were unfailingly polite, began their long journey back to their boats and fishing lives with resignation and some hope about being heard this time. Glen Hopkins, Manteo commercial fishermen, made a final comment to friends and charter/headboat fishermen as they got off the bus in the rain and fog, Thanks for all of your support.

3 Letter from the President Ladies and Gentlemen of the NCWU, Thank you for making it so easy to represent you. Being involved in the fishing industry makes us prone to some very high highs and some very low lows. Besides all of the factors that we deal with on a daily basis, we also have to deal with special interests that think they own the resource. With a stable-full of lobbyists during the 2013 Legislative short session and a price tag for five weeks, well over a million dollars, they came up short again - on passing a Game Fish Bill for the state of North Carolina. History has proven in the Gulf Coast and Southeast Atlantic that establishing gamefish status for any species precedes a total net ban. History has also proven, and studies have shown, what a disaster net bans are for the coastal communities that depend on hard-working people getting up and going to work. We knew that after the non-appearance of a game fish bill in the short session, we would see it during this long session. On the day prior to the last one to submit bills, April 17, 2013, the issue of gamefish came out as House Bill 983. Just as onerous as in the past, this bill was meant to cause the greatest economic damage possible to professional watermen. Even after an earlier meeting this Spring in Wanchese with commercial fishermen, the pushers behind the bill and some well-paid elected representatives in the Legislature decided to move ahead with this disastrous bill. The pushers of the bill were put on notice that we were going to fight kicking and clawing against the bill. The fight has not left us, even after taking a beating in the past few years. Over 300 of us took planes, trains, buses and cars to go to Raleigh for the Legislative Forum on May 6, Many of you were there. I was there. I am humbled by your support and at the same time, reassured to keep serving you by your actions. The Lord has intervened to fight this fight with us. He has had a major hand in arranging the moves in this chess game. We are blessed and we are winners. Be a soldier and don t run from the fight. You might miss something exciting! There are still Davids and Goliaths. Sound Bites from the Meeting This issue should NOT be taking place. Representative Michael Speciale, NCGA Tying the Game Fish Bill to dredging or road repair is a perfidious tactic. Frankly, I think trying to put fishermen out of work trumps dredging or road repair. It is an attack on liberty and the ability of a man to determine his destiny. I have always been impressed with the grit and courage of people who build their own boats and take themselves and others to the deep ocean to catch its bounty and see its wonders. The willingness of the commercial fisherman to get up and spend his day on the water to feed his fellowman is a powerful image. Defeat the bill. The attack on fishermen is odious. As far as Hatteras Islanders are concerned, we would rather be marooned on an island as free men than connected to the mainland as slaves. Cliff Doc Parker, Hatteras Charter Boat Captain This country is dedicated to free enterprise. Hal James - Coastal Carolina Tax Association We did not go to Raleigh to ask for anything money, subsidies, aid like so many others do we only asked to be left alone. HB 983 was presented as an economic measure, but the measurement is only in dollars. It does not address the value of the three fish to the fishing communities and what it brings to the quality of life in those communities. Mike Scott - Hatteras In-shore Fisherman It is hard for me to believe that the state of North Carolina allowed this to happen. Michael Peele Commercial Fisherman Standin by, Shack Britton Shackelford President, NCWU brittonshack@gmail.com

4 Thank You! NCWU says a BIG Thank You! to all the fishermen and their families, the seafood dealers, the marina and motel and restaurant owners who gave up a day s work and went to Raleigh for the Legislative Forum on HB 983 on Monday, May 6, We would also like to thank everyone who has signed the petition, Keep Local Seafood on NC Dinner Plates: Oppose NC House Bill 983. From April 27 and May 6, 2013 only ten days, 2000 people signed the on-line petition and over 1000 more signed printed-out copies in local marinas and shops. IT S NOT TOO LATE! If you have not signed it yet, please go to the NCWU home page; click on Petition. We appreciate your continued time and efforts in opposition to HB 983. New Board Member Perry Wood Beasley Perry Wood Beasley has joined the NCWU Board of Directors. He is a crabber and drop netter from Columbia, North Carolina. He said that he is excited to serve on the Board and Do what I can to help all fishermen. The regulations are killing us; we need common sense. At the March 2013 meeting, he said, We need to educate people. When they hear the term, commercial boats, they think of 700-foot Japanese trawlers; they don t think of our small boats and of us as small businessmen trying to make a living. Advertising by NC Catch, like our local chapter - Outer Banks Catch - is a start, but we need to get the word out. Phone Just Passin Through By Jeff Oden Jeff wrote this for article for the Legislative Forum, but only presented half of it because of the strict two-minute time limit for each speaker. It is given in its entirety below. Good afternoon. My name is Jeff Oden, and my family has been on the coast well for at least as long as anyone else s in the room, that much I can guarantee you. I can say that - since my great, great, great, great grandfather was shipwrecked on Hatteras Island in the mid-1800s and subsequently married a Native American. Contrary to popular belief, some have said that grandfather John Oden washed ashore in a whisky barrel, and the Oden s have been drunk ever since! Don t believe it, it was actually a pork barrel but bills such as HB 983 are admittedly enough to drive one to the extreme especially since nothing about this bill has anything to do with the resource other than allocation. And the irony isn t lost on me, that this bill is loaded with a lot of pork At present I run my family s ocean-front motel which was established in 1955, or at least, what is left of it after Hurricane Isabel downsized it in I also commercial fish and thank God for the opportunity since I can certainly tell you that in Hatteras Village at least, the economy hasn t been the same since Isabel. Why you ask? Well, between the economy, the lack of beach access - not to mention access in general because those who chose to block rational solutions to our highway problems and now, of course, we can add this elitist agenda item aiming to take one of the last reasons for people to come to the coast, which is fresh local seafood. The question is quickly becoming, how many nails does it take to nail the coffin shut? The authors of this initiative will try to make you believe that this is actually for my benefit, that I won t be able to get the cash register closed for all the economic gain that will come my way when all the anglers swamp the coast. Does anyone really believe that? If so, then they can probably tell me why the windfall from all the eco-tourism hasn t materialized as promised when the Park Service shut our beaches down. What really is most confounding to me about this bill is why a nonprofit organization that is supposedly about conservation is now so worried about our coastal economics when no one on the coast is complaining about anything other than initiatives just such as the ones that ruin our businesses even further. And even more troubling about all of this is that the NC General Assembly

5 that we elected to create opportunity in this state would waste everybody s time with such an elitist agenda-driven item designed to do quite the opposite. Since the early 1800s, it would be interesting to know how many times my family members have made a meal of one of the three species that today we are here to discuss taking from not just my family s dinner table, but yours as well, if you aren t fortunate enough to have the means or desire to get to the coast and catch them. How can anybody put a price tag on resource access and a heritage as rich as that? I will end this by looking back to my roots. Prior to the European s arrival to these shores, the Native Americans essentially led nomadic lifestyles, even on Hatteras Island where they spent their summers on the shoreline and their winters in the Buxton Woods, never claiming ownership to the lands, the winds, the seas or the sky since they were just passin through. That way of thinking certainly couldn t be more relevant than when considering this bill, because the bottom line is that these resources aren t yours to give! They are the peoples - be they red, black, white - consumers or YES, even anglers. Finally, it is time to bury this hatchet once and for all and quit wastin valuable time that could be spent solving this state s many far more pressing concerns. Please say No to HB 983. Thank you for your time. Slshcrkwtrwks@aol.com