Assemblyman Thomas P. DiNapoli
Chairman, Committee on Environmental Conservation
11 Middle Neck Rd., Suite 200
Great Neck, NY  11021

Recreational fisherman have long been among New York's strongest proponents of marine conservation.  Yet misguided environmental organizations are currently pushing to severely restrict recreational fishing by creating networks of no fishing marine protected areas (MPA's) off our coasts.  Such closures would have a devastating impact on quality of life for millions of recreational fisherman and coastal economies with little, if any, conservation benefit.

I urge you to endorse the NEW YORK FREEDOM TO FISH ACT (A.7299), which recognizes the social and economic importance of recreational fishing and establishes standards that must be met before no fishing MPA's can be implemented in New York's marine water.

Sincerely,

I FISH, I VOTE