2006 02-08 Law Suit Update. Wake up all fisherman! WAKE UP!
Wednesday, February 08, 2006 -




Below is an update from Captain Paul about the ongoing lawsuit the United Boatmen have filed against the National Marine Fisheries - Captain Steven of the Viking Fleet has organized a special Georges Banks trip on April 14th in support of this lawsuit. We will be donating 100 % OF ALL TICKET FARE to the cause!!!. To raise more money for this great cause we will be holding a raffle for rods and reels and other fishing goodies. The Viking Fleet is also donating a $250.00 gift certificate for offshore fishing which will be a prize in the raffle.If anyone would like to make a donation for the raffle you can mail it to us or drop it by our office in Montauk.

Viking Fleet, 462 west Lake Dr., Montauk, NY 11954.

If there are any fishermen out there who cant make the trip but would like to make a cash donation you can do so by mailing a check directly to The United Boatmen@ Po Box 191, Bayport,NY 11705.

This trip is really for a great cause and also promises to be a great time. To reserve call our office at 668-5700.


Remember - the United Boatmen are fighting for YOUR RIGHTS TO FISH!!

United Boatmen Law Suit Update:
Central Islip ,
New York - The United Boatmen today filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Central Islip .

The United Boatmen is a trade organization representing the interests of party fishing boat and charter fishing boat owners and operators throughout the coastal districts of New York and New Jersey . They are joined in the suit by co-plaintiffs Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), New York Fishing Tackle Trade Association (NYFTTA), New York Marine Trades Association (NYMTA), and Capt. Patrick Focazio (the "Lady J V") of Point Lookout, New York .


Capt. Dennis Kanyuk, President of United Boatmen/ New York stated, "This lawsuit has been a long time coming. NMFS and ASMFC have been ratcheting down the fluke quota for years now, with no regard for the enormous economic impacts these reductions have on small businesses in the area. On Long Island alone, we have lost nearly twenty percent of our party boat fleet over the last seven or eight years due to these increasingly strict regulations. The worst part of it is that the fluke stocks are rebuilding at a phenomenal pace, and according to NMFS' own figures have reached roughly seventy percent of the rebuilding target. Yet, it seems that the more fish we have in the area, the less we're allowed to catch."


Jim Donofrio, executive director of RFA explains, "The suit is based on a few different issues. First, the NMFS didn't use the "Best Science Available" as required by federal law. They've partially based these reductions on highly questionable survey data that even NMFS' own officials have publicly advised against using for the purpose of setting quotas. Second, although federal agencies are required to examine economic impacts whenever they publish a rule, in this case they've all but ignored the extent of economic pain that will result. NMFS basically said "we don't think there will be any decrease in the demand for recreational fishing due to this rule, but we don't have any hard information to back up our statement."

John Mantione, spokesmen for NYFTTA, added, "NMFS didn't take into account any impacts whatsoever on the bait and tackle industry! Even though we've submitted economic statistics for the
New York bait and tackle industry year after year, we didn't even get mentioned in the final rule. It's as if we don't exist!"

United Boatmen hopes to convince the Court to block enforcement of the rule before the '06 season begins in May.


NEWS FLASH !! New York Anglers take a hit once again - read Capt. Paul's letter to the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation. Please join us in voicing your opinion and forward your correspondence to Denise M. Sheehan.

December 5, 2005



New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Denise M. Sheehan, Commissioner DEC

625 Broadway

Albany, NY 12233-1010



Re: Sea Bass Closure in New York State Waters

For the Month of December 2005



Dear Commissioner Sheehan:



I, Capt. Paul G. Forsberg, am a second-generation fisherman and have been a captain and fisherman myself for fifty years with a fleet of six boats. My son and grandson are presently following in my footsteps. Through the years, I’ve observed many different NYSDEC Administrations and strictly abided by all of the decisions that were made. The recent closure of Sea Bass for the month of December 2005 has me agitated. All of our neighboring states (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey as well as states further south, Delaware, Maryland and even Virginia) are open. I would appreciate an explanation why we are closed.

The professional journals that I read all seem to place the blame that New York State didn’t file the proper paperwork. All the articles imply that it was through negligence and lack of concern for the anglers in New York State that caused this. The paperwork to reopen the Sea Bass for the two weeks in September was filed but not December. Why weren’t they filed together? Was this an oversight or was this intentional?

My views I’m sure also represent the opinions of thousands of other anglers. Fishing is a billion dollar business in New York and thousands of people’s livelihoods depend on it and we are locked out. While the states all around us can fish and fish our water.

I’ve always prided my men and myself for our clean, hardworking ethic and the ability to support our families. We fish the proper fish during the proper seasons throughout the year. We are all adherent members of the Drug Testing Consortium as regulated by the federal government. I always encourage my men to work when there is work available. The millions of New York anglers and billions of dollars in the saltwater angling industry deserve an explanation. Taking away a full month of Sea Bass fishing puts a hardship on the many men and their families that depend on fishing as a living.

I do my part by following all of the regulations. I believe I am entitled to an explanation. If this was merely an oversight and someone was lackadaisical with filing paperwork, please tell me how this will be rectified in the future to avoid the same costly mistakes. If this was intentional, please explain how closing one state while all others around us can fish will benefit the fish population as a whole.


Sincerely,

Capt. Paul G. Forsberg