September 9, 2014

The Honorable Harry Reid The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader Minority Leader United States Senate United States Senate S-221, U.S. Capitol S-230, U.S. Capitol Washington DC 20510 Washington DC 20510

The Honorable John Boehner The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House of Representatives Minority Leader United States Senate United States Senate H-232, U.S. Capitol H-204, U.S. Capitol Washington DC 20515 Washington DC 20515

Dear Leader Reid; Minority Leader McConnell; Speaker Boehner; and Minority Leader Pelosi:

As business leaders who depend on healthy marine fisheries resources and sounds fisheries management, we are keenly interested in the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). We believe MSA reauthorization provides an opportunity to develop a saltwater recreational fisheries management system that produces the full range of saltwater recreational fishing’s economic, social and conservation benefits to the nation. We ask that you help ensure that our community’s priorities are included in MSA as it moves toward reauthorization.

Saltwater recreational fishing has a $70 billion impact on our nation’s economy, supporting 454,000 jobs. Coastal communities throughout the country depend – in some cases, exclusively – on recreational fishing and boating for their livelihoods. In addition, the recreational fishing and boating community provides the bulk of funding for aquatic resource conservation through excise taxes, fishing license fees and direct donations which total approximately $1.5 billion annually. Anglers, boaters and industry willingly provide these contributions because of the strong conservation ethic that runs throughout the sport.

Our community’s priorities for MSA reauthorization are described in the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management’s landmark report, A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries. During 2013, members of the Commission met to deliberate and debate strategies to improve saltwater recreational fisheries management, culminating in the report, which identifies six key policies that would achieve the commission’s vision.

The recommendations offered by the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, commonly known as the Morris-Deal Commission, include:

 Establishing a national policy for recreational fishing  Adopting a revised approach to saltwater recreational fisheries management  Allocating marine fisheries for the greatest benefit to the nation  Creating reasonable latitude in stock rebuilding timelines  Codifying a process for cooperative management  Managing for the forage base

Since its original passage in 1976, MSA has made notable progress in ending overfishing, rebuilding depleted fish stocks, conserving essential fish habitat and a variety of other improvements to the nation’s marine resources. However, despite its significant socioeconomic, cultural and conservation values, recreational fishing’s importance is still not proportionally reflected in the MSA or the resultant federal marine fisheries management process, which remain primarily focused on commercial fishing. We urge you not to allow this MSA reauthorization to pass without addressing the recreational fishing and boating community’s priorities and developing a saltwater management system that meets the needs of the recreational fishing and boating community.

Sincerely,

Scott Jorgensen Donnie Teat Owner Sales Representative Pybus Point Lodge Big Rock Sports Admiralty Island, AK Columbia, AL

Melissa Lacour Rusty Braun, Owner Owner Log Cabin Sporting Goods Riviera Marina Craig, AK Bullhead City, AZ

Ricky Gease Mike Masterpole Executive Director President, SAMCORP, INC. Kenai River Sportfishing Association McCoy Fishing Soldotna, AK Lake Havasu City, AZ

Gene Gilliland Jennifer Duff Conservation Director President B.A.S.S. LLC Jef International, Inc. Birmingham, AL Mesa, AZ

Bruce Stanton Phil Morlock Vice President and General Manager, Fishing Division Director, Environmental Affairs PRADCO Outdoor Brands Shimano American Corp./Shimano Canada Ltd. Fort Smith, AR Irvine, CA

Bruce Chavis Jon Coats Bear Creek Storage Owner Owner Fern Creek Lodge Hot Springs, AR June Lake, CA

Dale Miller Ray T. Hill IV Owner Director - Corporate Accounts / Outdoor Sales Mac’s Sporting Goods Wiley X, Inc. Bishop, CA Livermore, CA

Dominick Manna Marc Higashi Sales Owner Big Rock Sports Performance Tackle Chico, CA Los Alamitos, CA

Jesse Fuller Matthew A. Hughes Sales Owner Big Rock Sports Action Fishing Tackle Citrus Heights, CA Mission Hills, CA

Ken Elie Steven Swain President Salesman Outdoor Pro Shop Big Rock Sports Cotati, CA Modesto, CA

Chris Hegnes William Fitzpatrick Manager Owner Englund Marine and Industrial Will's Sport and Tackle Crescent City, CA Monrovia, CA

Terry Pederson Dan Miller Vice President of Sales Sales Representative Daiwa Corporation Big Rock Sports Cypress, CA Napa, CA

Russell Slayman Douglas Lasko Salesman President Big Rock Sports Okuma Fishing Tackle Downey, CA Ontario, CA Clint Gulick Sal Vallone Owner President Desert Offshore Bob Sands Fishing Tackle, Inc. Palmdale, CA Van Nuys, CA

Gary Simon Randy Repass President/Owner Founder Building Supply Center West Marine Point Reyes Station, CA Watsonville, CA

Fred Braun Jon Hays President Owner Pacific Coast Brew, Inc., Westside Outdoorsman dba Lake Liquor & Sporting Goods Willows, CA Redding, CA

Bo Mormann Paul Paradis Sales Owner Big Rock Sports Paradise Sales San Diego, CA Colorado Springs, CO

Scot Hill Michael Gray CEO President Western Boat Shop Discount Fishing Tackle San Rafael, CA Denver, CO

Bill Shedd Robin Knox President Owner AFTCO Mfg. Co., Inc. Knox Aquatic Resource Consulting Santa Ana, CA Denver, CO

Shirley Choi Brunetti Donn Schaible Vice President and General Manager President Buff, Inc. Wright & McGill Co. Santa Rosa, CA Denver, CO

Doug Wright Tony K Williams President Assistant Manager Mountain Hardware and Sports Doc’s Outdoor Sports LLC Truckee, CA South Fork, CO

Jeff Crane Dan Iarrobino President Owner Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Cudjoe Sales Fishermen’s Warehouse Washington, DC Cudjoe Key, FL

Doug Jones Dave Bulthuis Owner Vice President of Sales Sportsman’s of Delmar Costa Sunglasses Delmar, DE Daytona Beach, FL

Joe Morris Eugene Lytwyn Owner President Lewes Harbour Marina Fishing & Boating Outfitters The Fishin' Hole Inc. Lewes, DE Daytona Beach, FL

Rick Carlisle Huw Bower Owner President Carlisle’s Marine, Inc. Boston Whaler and Brunswick Commercial and Smyrna, DE Government Products Edgewater, FL

Phillip Waynick Capt F. H. Johnson Sales Representative Owner Big Rock Sports Amelia Island Bait & Tackle Big Pine Key, FL Fernandina Beach, FL

James Millsaps Rob Southwick President President Jigs Reel & Gun, Inc. Southwick Associates, Inc. Big Pine Key, FL Fernandina Beach, FL

Cy Eubanks Ronald S. Stewart Vice President Owner/Operator Bennett Eubanks Oil Co. Stewart Marine Services LLC Blountstown, Florida Fernandina Beach, FL

David Burkhardt Vic Mitchell President Owner Trik Fish LLC Gulf Breeze Bait and Tackle Clermont, FL Gulf Breeze, FL

Geraldine O'Connell Guy Tillotson President Owner Man Overboard Bait and Tackle Grand Slam Group Sales & Marketing Indian Harbour Beach, FL Naples, FL

Carmen Lamb and William Lamb Capt. Ed Johnson Owners Owner Arlington Bait & Tackle/ABTFishing BayFactor Charters Jacksonville, FL Nokomis, FL

John Beale Capt. Ed Johnson Vice President Owner Beale Marine Dockside Store Jacksonville, FL Nokomis, FL

Theo Mitchelson Capt. Ed Johnson Owner Owner State Farm Agency FishFactor Charter Jacksonville, FL Nokomis, FL

Fred Rohwedder Brian Frazer Sales Representative Owner Big Rock Sports Nokomis Beach Bait & Tackle Jupiter, FL Nokomis, FL

C. Trent Rogers Steve Lewis President Salesman Rogers Southeast Associates, Inc. Big Rock Sports Jupiter, FL Ormond Beach, FL

Brenda Gorsuch Joseph F Meehan III Owner President Capt'n Pete's Pro Shop American Tackle Co. Inc Key Largo, FL Oviedo, FL

Scott Moore Virginia Murphy General Manager Messer Stores, Inc. McDuffie Marine-Sporting Goods, Inc President Lake City, FL Palatka, FL

William Mulligan Gregory Johnson Owner Manager Mexico Beach Marina Elite Angler’s Service LLC Mexico Beach, FL Palm Beach, FL John Starling Vincent Scanio III President President/General Manager Florida Watersports Southeastern Marketing International Panama City Beach, FL Tampa, FL

Thomas G Holmes Thomas A. Altif President President Outcast Bait and Tackle Kayaks By Bo Inc. Pensacola, FL Titusville, FL

Randy Nader Steve Robinson Executive Owner Nader’s Pest Raiders Optimal Outdoors Ponte Vedra, FL Winter Haven, FL

Buddy Prause Scott Salyers OBM & Vice President of Sales & Marketing Fishing Group Publisher Yo-Zuri, Florida Sales Office Bonnier Corporation Port Saint Lucie, FL Winter Park, FL

Whitney Jones Shawn McNew President Owner Whitney's Bait & Tackle Striper Soup Bait & Tackle Sanibel, FL Acworth, GA

Aledia Hunt Tush Todd Turner President CEO CB's Saltwater Outfitters Mountain Sports Sarasota, FL Cleveland, GA

Mark Helman Al Lott Marina Manager Owner Conch House Marina Resort Lott True Value St. Augustine, FL Douglas, GA

Heather Kane Ben Speciale Managing Member President Fish Heads of Stuart LLC Yamaha Marine Group Stuart, FL Kennesaw, GA

Greg Block Capt Gary (Gator) Hill President Owner Jones and Company, Inc Bull River Marina Stuart, FL Savannah, GA Hal Lyons Kristy Mckinley Owner Owner River Supply P&M Reloading Thunderbolt, GA Evansville, IN

Roy Momotomi Nicholas Stickler Owner President Roy's Fishing Supply Harris and Cypress Cay Aiea, HI Fort Wayne, IN

Ned E. Dansie Matthew Nadolski President Salesman Snake River Sports and Marina Inc. Westforth Sports Burley, ID Gary, IN

Clayton Clough Bill Boehman Owner General Manager West Addison Sports Precision Propellers Industry Inc. Twin Falls, ID Indianapolis, IN

David Kranz Chris Mitchell Owner Sales Rep Dave's Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy Big Rock Sports Crystal Lake, IL Van Buren, IN

Mark Schwabero Phillip M. Lillo President and Chief Operating Officer Owner Brunswick Don Coffey Company, Inc. Lake Forest, IL Olathe, KS

Yvan Cote Danny Mooney President and CEO Owner Seastar Solutions Mooney's Bait Shop Litchfield, IL Inez, KY

Randy Lemcke Gary Jennings Vice President Territory Sales Plano Synergy Big Rock Sports Plano, IL Lexington, KY

Scott D. Porter Jefferson Angers President President Formula Boats Center for Coastal Conservation Decatur, IN Baton Rouge, LA Mark and Keri Mathews Bobby Phillips Owners Outside Sales Representative Superior Bait and Tackle Big Rock Sports Baton Rouge, LA Baltimore, MD

Wade Cantrelle Ken Daniel President Owner Renovations Inc. R & D Boat Supply Cut Off, LA Cambridge, MD

Mark LeLeaux Dave & Debbie Tolbert Regional Sales Representative Owners Big Rock Sports Island Tackle Outfitters - Lake Charles, LA Chester, MD

Dan Boudreaux Greg Kauffman Owner President Ace Hardware Sarge's Inc. Napoleonville, LA Elkton, MD

Laura A. Ippoliti Bud Hein Owner Owner Ippi's Bait & Tackle Fishbone's Bait & Tackle Inc. Lynn, MA Pasadena, MD

Edward Johns Jeff Powell Owner President K.B. White Co Ed Cumings Marblehead, MA Flint, MI

Pat Di Gloria Dennis Weaver Owner Owner Di Gloria's Sport Shop Grand Marais Outfitters Methuen, MA Grand Marais, MI

Sheldon Royal Gregory P. Ketola Owner Managing Member Hunters Rendezvous Bait Plus LLC Pepperell, MA Gwinn, MI

Wayne Carlson Chip Powell President President Jj's Emporium Mason Tackle Company Worcester, MA Otisville, MI Terry Ickes Bob Menne General Manager/VP CEO G3 Boats New Ulm Plant for Palm Beach/Weeres Lebanon, MO New Ulm, MN

Benjamin M. Cast Cecil Cohn President President Lowe Crestliner Lebanon, MO Otsego, MN

Michael J. Brooks Karen Ergen President DC Manager Ardent Tackle LLC CSI Sports St. Louis, MO Sauk Rapids, MN

Adam Hendrix Denny Kaufenberg General Manager Outside Sales Rep, Central Minnesota CHIC Lumber Co. CSI Sports St. Peters, MO Sauk Rapids, MN

Gary Remensnyder Kurt Mustian President Inbound Supervisor Lew’s Fishing Tackle Big Rock Sports Springfield, MO Sauk Rapids, MN

Dean Capra Jay Nicolin Owner Sportsman Stop Inc. Capra's Sporting Goods Owner/President Blaine, MN Waseca, MN

Justin Sommer Bob Menne Owner CEO Wild Wings Studio Premier Marine Inc. Fairmont, MN Wyoming, MN

Gregg Wollner Randy Reeves Executive Vice President Owner Rapala USA Randy’s Sporting Goods Minnetonka, MN Lumberton, MS

Dirk Hyde K.C. Walsh President President Lund Simms Fishing Products New York Mills, MN Bozeman, MT Guy Schoenborn Gary Zurn President Owner-Partner and SVP Industry Relations Fishing with Larry Big Rock Sports LLC Columbus, MT Graham, NC

Randy Rogers Jim Hardin President Compliance Manager All American Trophy Grady-White Boats Missoula, MT Greenville, NC

Richard Gay Leslie Brownfield Owner Outbound Rich’s Tackle Big Rock Sports Three Forks, MT Hamlet, NC

Shannon Farlow Brad Mendenhall Content Marketing Manager Marina Operator/Park Supervisor Big Rock Sports, LLC High Point Parks & Recreation Asheboro, NC High Point, NC

Frances Folb Bryan E Johnson President OEM Sales Frank & Fran’s the Fisherman’s Friend, Inc. Sea Striker Avon, NC Morehead City, NC

Bob Eakes George Chockley President Owner Red Drum Tackle Shop, Inc Bull's Eye Gunsmith Shop Buxton, NC Mebane, NC

Cynthia Todd Bob Ballard Manager Director of Compliance and Process Ocean Atlantic Inc, Hurricane Fleet Big Rock Sports Calabash, NC Morehead City, NC

Jim Edwards Jake Robertson Secretary Owner A.K. McCallum Co. Robby's Sales Inc. Fayetteville, NC Mount Airy, NC

Donald W. Betts Andy McCann President Owner Betts Tackle, Ltd. Nags Head Fishing Pier Fuquay Varina, NC Nags Head, NC Todd Lauer Dale Sandy Sales Representative Owner Big Rock Sports The Tackle Shack, LLC Newport, NC Newbury, NH

Alan Sutton Jim Moran Owner Owner Tradewinds Tackle Moran’s Dockside Bait and Tackle Ocracoke, NC Avalon, NJ

Rick Morgan Rich Peter President President HQ Supply Simon Peter Sport Raleigh, NC Newton, NJ

John Leach Bill Wiggins Owner Owner Dutchman Creek Bait & Tackle Fin-atics Marine Supply Ltd., Inc. Southport, NC Ocean City, NJ

Chris Medlin Tom Fote Owner / Manager Legislative Chairman East Coast Sports Jersey Coast Anglers Association Surf City, NC Toms River, NJ

David Richardson Phil Orth Director of Credit Owner Big Rock Sports LLC Cape May Bait & Tackle, LLC Waxhaw, NC West Cape May, NJ

John A. Grissom Catherine Algard Owner President Tex’s Tackle and Bait Inc. Sterling Harbor Bait & Tackle Wilmington, NC Wildwood, NJ

Louis Chemi Chris Nemec EVP & Managing Dir., Recreational Marine Division Manager Navico, Inc. Nemecs Sport Shop Merrimack, NH Warrensburg, NY

Larry Rencken Leon Cole Vice President of Sales Owner Raymarine Inc. Cole's Bait & Tackle Nashua, NH Bainbridge, OH Mike Miller Mark E. Transue President Owner/Operator Miller Rod & Gun Inc. Transue’s Tackle Youngstown, OH Kittanning, PA

Darrell Arbogast Joe Weber Sales Representative Owner Big Rock Sports Gardens of Paradise Eugene, OR Loretto, PA

Jason Fields Kevin P Pawuk Manager President/Owner Fields Home Center Saxton Outdoor Supply Inc. Grants Pass, OR Saxton, PA

Brian Raab Ken Maurer Sales Representative Owner Big Rock Sports Southside Sports Keizer, OR Sunbury, PA

Jim Martin John Clement Conservation Director Owner Pure Fishing Long John’s Bait Barn Mulino, OR Uniondale, PA

John Mitchell Todd Stewart Sales President/Owner Big Rock Sports Irby Street Sporting Goods Dubois, PA Florence, SC

Gordon Brady Mark Johnson Owner Partner B&B Lures tackle Shop Five Rivers Outfitters Hanover, PA Georgetown, SC

Peter R. Ridd James M. Young President Owner Thomas Spinning Lures, Inc. Sportsman's One Stop Hawley, PA Iva, SC

Paul Rutledge Robert L. Carter Owner Owner PJ'S Tackle Box Carter's Sporting Goods Johnstown, PA Lake City, SC Wayne L. Burdick Rick Reyenger President CEO Beneteau, Inc. - Group North American Boat Marine Accessories, Corp. Operations Maryville, TN Mt. Pleasant, SC

Thomas E Wilson III Jeff Rose Owner Sr. Vice President Port Royal Landing Marina, Inc. Marinas International Port Royal, SC Dallas, TX

Toni Maranell Rick Pope Owner/Manager President The Bait Box TFO Holdings Lake Preston, SD Dallas, TX

Jack Baye Jeff Stone Salesman General Manager/Sr. VP Big Rock Sports Skeeter Boats Mitchell, SD Kilgore, TX

Keith Yunger Brandy Hicks President Owner/Operator Bayliner Russell's Bait & Tackle Knoxville, TN Matagorda, TX

David J. Stair Cary Larson President Salesman Mid-Lakes Corp. Big Rock Sports Knoxville, TN Cedar, UT

Tim Schiek John C. Gooden President Sales Representative Sea Ray and Meridian Big Rock Sports Knoxville, TN Richmond, VA

Jackie Duncan Glenn Mongold Owner Sales Representative Duncan’s Ace Hardware Big Rock Sports Linden, TN Stephens City, VA

Evans Poindexter John Pfeifer Outside Sales President Big Rock Sports Mercury Virginia Beach, VA Fond Du Lac, WI

Eugene W. Del Gallo Sr. Paul Schluter Owner President G & S Wild Country Outfitters St. Croix Rods Woodstock, VA Park Falls, WI

Dagmar Neubauer Richard G Anderson Partner Owner The Reel Angler AAA Sport Shop Manchester Center, VT Spooner, WI

Greg Boglioli Darcy Linklater Manager Co-owner Vermont Field Sports Darver Tackle Middlebury, VT Starbuck, WA

Dan Parnel A. R. Holbert President Owner Leisure Sale Holbert’s Self Service Auburn, WA Big Bend, WV

Brian Thurston Brent Cayton President Owner FTR Media, LLC Sportsman's Emporium Fishing Tackle Retailer Morgantown, WV Burien, WA William M. Howe Derek Erdmann Owner Sales Timberline Sporting Goods Big Rock Sports Casper, WY Cashmer, WA

Curt Coleman Owner Tri Mountain Sports Morton, WA