The Charter Fisherman’s Association (CFA) is petitioning Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) to consider, and advise his appointees at the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission on, the negative impacts their recent decision to reject an amendment to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Reef Fish Management Plan will have on small businesses and Florida’s broader tourism economy.
The CFA supports Amendment 40, commonly referred to as “Sector Separation,” because it is the best way to stabilize the Gulf Recreational Red Snapper Fishery and the recreational tourism industry that relies upon it. The proposed amendment would create two recreational fishing subsectors – the private boat-owning public and the federally permitted charter fleet.
This amendment is simply seeking to reset and restore the decreased access charter operators have to serve millions of tourists who come to Florida each year to fish and spend millions of dollars in the process.
“Governor Scott has made economic growth and jobs creation the hallmark of his campaign and his tenure as Florida’s Chief Executive,” said Clearwater, Florida Captain Mike Colby of the Double Hook Charter Boat and Vice President of the Charter Fisherman’s Association. “Governor Scott should support Florida’s charter fleet. We’re urgently calling on him today to strengthen our ability to provide tourists with access to the red snapper fishery and by so doing to keep and grow good jobs in Florida and to strengthen our economy, two of the governor’s most prominent goals.”
For the past three years, Gov. Scott’s appointees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission have allowed private boat anglers greater access to public trust fishery resources in full knowledge of the expense it tolls on anglers reliant upon the charter fleet. Currently, private anglers have 54 days to fish for red snapper, while tourism-related anglers reliant on the charter fleet are down to nine days.
“We’d like Governor Scott to impress on his appointees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission that they are playing with fire and should reconsider blocking passage of Amendment 40,” Colby said. “Threatening the jobs and livelihoods of captains, hoteliers and restaurateurs, as well as endangering the viability of our coastal communities, is bad business and we need Governor Scott to inform his appointees of this.”
Amendment 40 protects Florida’s vibrant and strong tourism industry. It allows the charter fleet to service tourists when they’re actually visiting here. And this helps in turn to preserve local tourism expenditures. A 2014 Haas Center Study, commissioned by the City of Destin, found that over 300,000 out-of-region tourists visiting that city alone inject over $90-a-day into the local economy each year. Of those 300,000 tourists, 44 percent cited fishing alone as their reason for visiting Florida.
According to Visit Florida, 94.7 Million tourists visited the state in 2013. And the loss of any who fish will have consequences. For, as Gov. Scott points out, every 85 tourists who visit the state equate to one Florida job.
Below is the letter sent to the governor.
Dear Governor Scott:
We are seeking your resolve to stabilize the devastating loses the federally permitted charter for-hire industry is experiencing from the unfair business climate the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has created by adopting liberal state-water red snapper seasons in recent years.
Despite numerous attempts by the federally permitted charter fleet to earn the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission’s support for Amendment 40, the Commission has written that they will vote no, essentially blocking the ability for a measure that promotes greater fishery accessibility and seasonal predictability for tourists reliant on our industry’s services.
As you have often stated, every 85 tourists creates one Florida job. The charter fishing industry has been both a loyal supporter and contributor to that effort. Charter fishing is a cornerstone of Florida’s Gulf Coast tourism economy. A 2014 Haas Center Study, commissioned by the City of Destin, shows over 300,000 out-of-region tourists in Destin alone injected over $90 a day into that community’s economy annually.
More importantly, of those 300,000 visitors, over 44% stated they made Florida their destination choice due to the opportunity to go fishing on charter boats. The Haas Study reflects only a small component of the much larger economic engine that the Florida Gulf Coast’s 625 charter businesses provide the state.
Florida gains substantially with Amendment 40 by providing tourists both greater fishery accessibility and predictability, which is critical to many in their decision making of where to spend their vacation dollars. Amendment 40 is simply good for business, good for Florida, and, above all, good for the resource.
Your wisdom and leadership on this can provide policy guidance that does not harm an industry that supports and contributes to the tourism growth that has been instrumental to the economic recovery you have led.
On behalf of the over 150 signatories to this letter, we request your office encourage your appointees to reconsider their position on Amendment 40 in light of the needs of Florida’s tourism sector and your administration’s crowning achievements — sustained job growth and economic recovery.
Sincerely,
Captain Mike Colby
Vice President – Florida Representative
Charter Fishermans Association
The following Florida Gulf Coast Businesses and Associations support this letter:
Emerald Coast Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Assoc.
30A Radio & 30A.Com
Clearwater Marine Association Clearwater
Destin Charter Boat Association Destin
100 Proof Charters Clearwater
73 Donzi, LLC Destin
A and B Deep Sea Fishing Naples
Above Average Clearwater
Above average II Charters Clearwater
Aegean Surf and Racquet Club Destin
Ali Benton LLC Miramar Beach
American Spirit Party Boats Destin
Ariel Seafood Inc Destin
Back Down II Inc. Destin
Back Lash Charters Destin
BFT Construction LLC Santa Rosa Beach
Big John Inc Destin
Big Zulu Charters Pensacola
Boat and Motor Superstores Palm Harbor
Boogies Water Sports Destin
Brad Benton Inc Miramar Beach
Capt Billy Teems Charters Destin
Capt Curt Quinn Charters Destin
Capt Dave Janowski Charters Destin
Capt Dennis Kendrick Charters Destin
Capt Jim Mc Manon Charters Destin
Capt Ken Bolden Charters Destin
Capt Kyle Lowe Destin
Capt Marvel Charters Inc Naples
Capt Rick Derek Charters Destin
Capt Steve Lathi Destin
Capt Tin Adams Charters Destin
Captain Chris Kirby Charters Destin
Captain Jim Green Charters Destin
Captain Jim's Charters Carabelle
Captain Mike Sportfishing Pensacola
Charter Boat Al - Lin Destin
Charter Boat Alabama Naples
Charter Boat Anastasia Destin
Charter Boat Barracuda Destin
Charter Boat Blue Runner Destin
Charter Boat Checkmate Destin
Charter Boat Destiny, Inc Destin
Charter Boat Dos Amigos Clearwater
Charter Boat First Light Destin
Charter Boat Fishing Fool Destin
Charter Boat Grand Slam Naples
Charter Boat Gypsy Clearwater
Charter Boat Huntress Destin
Charter Boat Locked Up Destin
Charter Boat Ms. B Haven Naples
Charter Boat Phoenix Destin
Charter Boat Reel EZ Destin
Charter Boat Solo Lobo Naples
Charter Boat Stress Relief Destin
Charter Boat Sunrise, Inc. Destin
Charter Boat Twilight Destin
Charter Boat Two C’s Clearwater
Charter Boat Unreel Inc Destin
Charter Boat Vengeance Destin
Charter Boat Wizard Clearwater
CJ Enterprises Destin
Coastal Design Pensacola
Cool Winds LLC Destin
Crown Cabinetry Pensacola
Currin Graphics Pensacola
Cutting Edge Charters Destin
Cuvee Bistro Destin
Daisy Mae Charters Clearwater
Dale E. Peterson Vacations Destin
Day Break Charters Destin
Destin Charter Services Inc. Destin
Destin Marina Services, LLC Destin
Destin Resorts Destin
Destination Charter Inc Destin
Destiny on the Gulf Destin
Dewy Destin Restaurants LLC Destin
Dive Boat Plunger Clearwater
Dixie Electric Cars Miramar Beach
Double Eagle Party Boats Clearwater
Double Hook Charters Clearwater
Double Up Charters Pensacola
E Photography Destin
East Pass Investors, LLC Destin
Emerald C's Development Compnay Santa Rosa Beach
Emerald Grande LLC Destin
Entertainer Charters LLC Pensacola
Finest Kind Charters Destin
Fish Head Charters Naples
Fish Hunter Charters Naples
Fishing Charters of Naples Naples
Fishy Bizzness Naples
Florida Coast Charters Clearwater
For Reel Photos Destin
Ft Walton Glass Company Fort Walton Beach
Full Draw Charters LLC Destin
Goodtimes Marina and Motel Steinhatchee
Gulf Breeze Bait & Tackle Gulf Breeze
Gulfstream Clearwater
Gulfstream II Charters Clearwater
HarborWalk Charters, LLC Destin
HarborWalk Holding, LLC Destin
HarborWalk Hospitality, LLC Destin
HarborWalk LLC Destin
HarborWalk Marina Destin
HarborWalk Owners Association, Inc. Destin
High Cotton Inc Destin
Islander Resorts Destin
Jackacuda's Sea Food and Sushi Destin
Jerrys Cajun Restaurant Pensacola
Jetty East Resorts Destin
Legendary Hospitality, LLC Destin