Summary Letter About 2004 Activities


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Friends: This is a letter sent out to our membership. It summarizes our activities in 2004 and mentions anticipated fundraisers and activities scheduled for 2005

February 2005

The Past Year in Review

· What do we stand for?

The CCFCC is a conservation group with a purpose of preserving the fisheries along the coast of California so that this cherished sport and natural resource can be enjoyed by many generations to come. We promote education about the status of marine life along the coast and the status of our coastal fisheries. We promote sustainable fisheries management based on science and reliable data. We also resist unreasonable or politically motivated efforts to limit our fishing rights.

· What did we do in 2004?

1. We held two successful fund-raiser dinners in Avila Bay and Morro Bay.

2. We received an award of $10,000 against the Department of Fish & Game for our lawsuit that kept fishing open at the end of 2003.

3. The CCFCC was the catalyst initiating a “central committee” of California fishing groups. The first meeting of this group was held in San Luis Obispo. This central committee prepared a powerful letter to the “Blue-Ribbon Task Force” appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to develop a master plan under the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA). The central committee has evolved into a statewide fishing coalition called the California Fisheries Coalition (CFC). This coalition is comprised of both commercial and recreational fishing groups. The coalition is a “watchdog” organization that is committed to keeping the MLPA on track and will resist all efforts to use the MLPA to create “no-fish zones” that are not justified by reliable science and fishing data.

4. Board members have attended and testified at Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) meetings in California and Washington concerning fishing regulations that affect our fishing rights along the coast.

5. The CCFCC has lobbied local, state and federal lawmakers concerning fishing regulations.

6. The CCFCC has developed a statewide reputation through our court actions as the fishing organization that aggressively challenges governmental authorities that would unreasonably restrict our fishing rights.

7. We have attended “sub-committee” and “scientific-panel” meetings of the DFG attempting to influence formulation of 2005-2006 fishing regulations.

8. Two of our directors were active members of the San Luis Obispo County Marine Interest Group (MIG). This is a powerful group that sponsored on-board fish surveys that demonstrate that our local fishery is thriving.

9. We sponsored a plan to engage the Fish & Game Department and the California university system to participate in an expansion of the MIG sponsored “on-board survey” groundfish research study. We are still pursuing this project.

· What is planned for 2005?

1. We plan to attend Fish and Game Commission meetings and meetings of the federal PFMC. We will continue to build our reputation as a “watch-dog” organization that protects recreational fishing rights.

2. We will conduct fishing tournaments, some social and some with charitable goals.

3. We will continue to be active in the Marine Interest Group (MIG), promoting marine education and conservation.

4. As a part of the California Fisheries Coalition (CFC) we will fight to resist any MPAs along the coast that are not justified by credible scientific fisheries data.

5. We are actively involved as “watch-dogs” of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA). This legislation is being used by environmental groups as a vehicle to close down portions of our coastline to recreational fishing. We are resisting all efforts to close fishing when not based on science and reliable data.

6. We will continue to resist the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s efforts to close fishing along the Central Coast with PG&E “mitigation” money. We will be pressuring the RWQCB to use this money to fund the gathering of “essential fishery information” and data. We will also push to use this money to further the groundfish enhancement program designed by biologists working for Central Coast Salmon Enhancement.

7. We will resist efforts by the Sierra Club to pass legislation to include all of San Luis Obispo County as a part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

8. We will conduct fundraising efforts to enable any litigation deemed appropriate to protect our right to fish.

· How are we spending your money?

1. We use money to pay outside attorney fees and the filing fees, costs, postage and paper products associated with lawsuits to protect fishing rights.

2. We pay for travel and lodging expenses of board members who go to regulatory meetings in California, Oregon and Washington.

3. In 2003 and 2004 we contributed $6,000 to the Marine Interest Group (MIG) that is gathering essential fishery information along the Central Coast which will show that our fishery is alive and flourishing.

4. We have contributed $1,000 to CFC (mentioned above) for a lobbyist that is helping combat efforts to create “no-fish zones” up and down our coast.

5. We have contributed $1,000 to the Central Coast Salmon Enhancement Project to help fund a pilot program involving Rockfish Enhancement. This is an exciting new program that may help to replenish nearshore rockfish species.

6. We have no paid staff and all the work of the Board of Directors is pro bono.

· What is enclosed?

1. If you are a new member, please find enclosed your membership card. If you attend one of the fundraisers here in San Luis Obispo County during 2005, your fundraiser ticket covers your membership dues for 2005.

2. If you cannot attend either of the fundraiser dinners, please fill out the enclosed membership application and insert a check for $25 or more to CCFCC and return it to our office. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

3. Of course, we would like it if you could get other friends to join our organization. Feel free to make copies of the membership form and distribute it to friends who might want to become members.

· Upcoming Fundraiser Dinners

1. The Avila Bay Yacht Club fundraiser dinner will be on March 12, 2005 @ 6 p.m. The dinner will be followed by a raffle and auction of some great fishing trips and prizes. Contact Bob Hather (541-4992) for tickets and reservations. This is a very small facility and only holds 70-80 people. Get your tickets right away!

2. The Morro Bay Community Center fundraiser dinner will be held on April 16, 2005 @ 6 p.m. Last year this was a fabulous success. Again, we will have door-prizes, raffle and auction. All board members will be selling tickets or you can get tickets from Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay, Four Seasons Outfitters in San Luis Obispo or contact Mel de la Motte at the CCFCC office (544-2424). This is our big fundraiser event of the year. Please give us your support.

· Feedback

We invite feedback. Please contact any of the Board members with questions or suggestions. Or, go online to our web site at RightToFish.com

If we have sent this letter to the wrong address or we have misspelled your name, please let us know so that we can correct the error.

Thank you for your support!

Melvin A. de la Motte, Jr.A
President of CCFCC