3/12/02
Minutes from NYFTTA Meeting

Sport Fishing Education Center, Cedar Beach Marina, Babylon NY

Tuesday March 12,2002

Attendance:

1.Lenora Daniel

2.John Mantione

3.John Brando

4.Bertha Brando

5.Clenn Meyers

6.Blaise Rifino

7.Tom Melton

8.Tim Huss

9.Jack Ferrera

10.John Fritz

11.Susan Moachoris

12.Chuck Hollins

13.Representatives from the Mid-Island Surf Casters

Meeting called to order at 7:14 pm

1. Minutes from the previous meeting not available.

2. Treasury Report 1/1/02 through 3/12/02

ACTION: Motion to accept the treasury report. Motion seconded and approved unanimously.

3. Calendar of Events:

Gurneys Cocktail Party 3/13 6-8pm
Railroad Car meeting 3/14 7 pm
Grucci Fundraiser 3/25 6-9pm
Sport Fishing Alliance Meeting 3/26 7:30 pm
NYFTTA Annual meeting 4/9 7pm

4. Proposal 1: To Transfer from NYFTTA general fund up to $2,500 to the
Sportsman Advisory Council.

ACTION: Motion to accept Proposal 1. Motion is accepted and approved
unanimously.

5.Proposal 2: To increase the Fisheries committee fund from the NYFTTA
general fund up to $3,000.

Discussion: As the Fisheries Committee becomes more active their expenses
are increasing.
ACTION: Motion to accept Proposal 2. Motion is accepted and approved
unanimously.

6. Proposal 3: NYFTTA endorsements to the Mid-Atlantic Council:

        NY Obligatory seat: Pat Augustine

        At Large Seat: Jack Ferrera

ACTION: Motion to accept Proposal 3. Motion is accepted and approved
unanimously.

7. Lenora Daniel reported on the activities of the Sport Fishing Education
Center.

-She will attend the Long Island Visitors and Convention Bureau Eco-Tourism
Committee on Thursday, March 21, 2002 at 9:30 am.

-The Sport Fishing Alliance, LTD the entity that will be managing the
Center received its nonprofit tax-exempt 501(c)3 status from the IRS.

-Construction is moving along. There was $250,000 in cost overruns.

-Aquaculture equipment is being ordered

-Lease is being negotiated between the Town of Babylon and NYFTTA

-A tentative date for the groundbreaking is May 18, 2002. The GSA Suffolk
County will also be on hand for that day for a fishing clinic.

-Lenora applied for $150,00 in appropriation monies from Congressman Steve
Israel. This money will be for 2003.

-CFR retreat weekend is scheduled for July 19, 20 and 21. They are still
fundraising for this years event and in need of $4,000. A planning meeting
is scheduled for Thursday, March 14, 2002.

-The Fisherman Magazine will sponsor the library.

8. Melissa Dearborn is the proud new mother of a beautiful baby girl,
Hailey.

9. John Mantione and Lenora Daniel attended the I Fish New York initiative
hosted by Erin Crotty, Commissioner NYDEC at the NY Boat Show at the Jacob Javits Center on January 12, 2002 (see attached press release).  John
addressed the press at this event emphasizing the value of education and
outreach regarding recreational fishing for the industry.

Tim Huss, NY DEC, discussed the I Fish NY program. The committee, which is organizing the program, is just beginning to develop a plan. Basically,
meetings have been brainstorming sessions. Mostly DEC official sit on this
committee, however Keith Koppel SAREP director is involved. John Mantione made the offer of NYFTTA assistance with this project.

10. LIBBA has a new administration: Chuck Hollins, president, Jim Langone, Ex. vice president

11. NYFTTA has been assisting Cornell with reinstating their Suffolk County
funding. (See Attached Letter)

12. NYFTTA wrote a letter of support for Sea Grant to remain under NOAA.

13. NYFTTA has an application for a new member:

Frank Pomes
Ronkonkoma Outfitters, INC
19 Parkway Blvd
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

ACTION: Motion to accept Pomes membership. Motion seconded and carried unanimously.

14. MRAC meeting March 19, 2002 at 2:00 pm.

-          Melissa will not be able to attend the meeting.

-          Jack Ferrera mentioned the agenda might include discussion about
establishing a saltwater fishing license for NY State. Concern was voiced
over the allocation of revenue from the license.

-          At this time NYFTTA does not have a position on a saltwater
license.

-          There will be a great deal of discussion about the license before
any action will be taken.

-          NYFTTA will need a representative at this meeting in order to
keep the organization informed about the progress regarding the license.

15. Trap and Skeet Shooting Range at Southaven County Park may be forced to close. John stated there is nothing in the NYFTTA mission statement to support involvement with this issue. Individual shops will have to pursue this issue individually.

16. NYFTTA has formed a PAC with other organizations (RFA, NYSFF etc) called Fisherman for a Better Government. This organization will host the Grucci fundraiser on March 26, 2002.

17. NY State Legislation under review

-      Marine District Vanity License Plate (See attached legislation)

-      The fund will be open not just to revenue from the license plate but also for corporate donations.

-      Revenues from the License Plate will help fund the Center.

-      Assemblyman Sweeney and Senator Owen Johnson co-sponsored the bill.

-      Suffolk County Legislator sent the state a resolution to support the license plate.

-      The Lead Banning Bill (See attached legislation and previous NYFTTA position letter)

-      Discussion regarding the lead bill: Biting down on lead split shot may cause immune problems and developmental problems in children.

-      Alternatives to lead are 3Xs more expensive to tackle dealers.

-      A bill to ban lead would greatly affect upstate tackle businesses.

-      Joe Modica offered that New England states have banned lead but are now having environmental problems with its replacement, zinc.

-      EPA has determined that lead is not soluble in water.

-      Audubon is in favor of banning lead because of waterfowl ingesting lead split shot.

-      State DEC has not sent information regarding pathology reports on birds.

-      Albany wants NYFTTAs opinion regarding this issue.

-      Tom Melton will contact Delaware and Maryland to gather information on their lead banning policies and impacts of implementation.

-      John Fritz will contact Suffolk County Legislator Ginny Fields for local Audubon input.

-      It is very difficult to factor out the unknown regarding this legislation. Much more information is needed. However, a vote is needed now based on the information before the meeting.

-      ACTION: Motion to oppose the Lead Banning Bill. Motion is seconded and carried unanimously.

17. Fluke and Scup regulations:

-      Discussion on fluke: 17-inch minimum regulation did not harm industry. Boats in western Long Island feel the 17-inch regulation is unfair since New Jersey has a 16-? minimum. However, if NY were to decrease to 16? inch minimum it could increase the catch target for the state by as much as 50% and greatly decrease the length of the season.

-      ACTION: Motion to accept option 2 (17 inch minimum size, possession limit 8 and the season will remain open all year) for recommendation to MRAC. Motion seconded and approved unanimously.

-      Discussion on Scup: Best if there is no break in the season, very difficult for enforcement. Technical committee has made a ruling but scup is very plentiful. Option 2, which does not have break in the season. However the season would not begin until July 1 and this would adversely affect some party boats and businesses.

-      ACTION: Since all the options before the meeting will have a negative impact on the industry, NYFTTA has decided not to take any position on scup regulations.

18. Minutes from the Sportsman Advisory Council were read.

ACTION: To accept the minutes of the Sportsman Advisory Council. Motion
seconded and approved unanimously.

18. NY Rail Cars for NY Waters has been effective in organizing numerous fishing, boating and scuba diving groups to pressure NY DEC to keep rail cars in state for local artificial reefs. The next meeting will be March 14, 2002.

19. Nomination Slate (See attached)

ACTION: Motion to accept nomination slate. Motion seconded and approved unanimously.

20. Bylaws (see attached)

ACTION: Motion to accept the bylaws. Motion seconded and approved unanimously.

20. Jed Kennedy of Bernetts Marina is resigning from the NYFTTA board.

ACTION: Motion to accept resignation. Motion seconded and approved unanimously with regret.

21. ACTION: Motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:30pm. Motion seconded and approved unanimously.

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