Florida Governor Rick Scott Executive Office of the Governor The Capitol. RE: Florida Gulf Coast Tourism Needs Your Support for Fishery Amendment 40

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Stuart Byrd
5 years ago
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1 Florida Governor Rick Scott Executive Office of the Governor The Capitol Tallahassee, FL RE: Florida Gulf Coast Tourism Needs Your Support for Fishery Amendment 40 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, shows over 300,000 out-of-region tourists in 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 October 15, 2014

2 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 Cc: Chairman Richard A. Corbett, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Commissioners, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Nick Wiley, Executive Director, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 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 Charter Boat Association 100 Proof Charters 73 Donzi, LLC A and B Deep Sea Fishing Above Average Above average II Charters Aegean Surf and Racquet Club Ali Benton LLC American Spirit Party Boats Ariel Seafood Inc Back Down II Inc. Back Lash Charters BFT Construction LLC Big John Inc Big Zulu Charters Boat and Motor Superstores Boogies Water Sports Brad Benton Inc Capt Billy Teems Charters Capt Curt Quinn Charters

3 Capt Dave Janowski Charters Capt Dennis Kendrick Charters Capt Jim Mc Manon Charters Clearwater Clearwater Naples Clearwater Clearwater Miramar Beach Santa Rosa Beach Pensacola Palm Harbor Miramar Beach Capt Ken Bolden Charters Capt Kyle Lowe Capt Marvel Charters Inc Capt Rick Derek Charters Capt Steve Lathi Capt Tin Adams Charters Captain Chris Kirby Charters Captain Jim Green Charters Captain Jim's Charters Captain Mike Sportfishing Charter Boat Al - Lin Charter Boat Alabama Charter Boat Anastasia Charter Boat Barracuda Charter Boat Blue Runner Charter Boat Checkmate Charter Boat y, Inc Charter Boat Dos Amigos Charter Boat First Light Charter Boat Fishing Fool Charter Boat Grand Slam Charter Boat Gypsy Charter Boat Huntress Charter Boat Locked Up Charter Boat Ms. B Haven Charter Boat Phoenix Charter Boat Reel EZ Charter Boat Solo Lobo Charter Boat Stress Relief Charter Boat Sunrise, Inc. Charter Boat Twilight Charter Boat Two C s Charter Boat Unreel Inc Charter Boat Vengeance Charter Boat Wizard CJ Enterprises Coastal Design Cool Winds LLC Crown Cabinetry Currin Graphics Cutting Edge Charters Cuvee Bistro Daisy Mae Charters Naples Carabelle Pensacola Naples Clearwater Naples Clearwater Naples Naples Clearwater

4 Clearwater Pensacola Pensacola Pensacola Clearwater Dale E. Peterson Vacations Day Break Charters Charter Services Inc. Marina Services, LLC Resorts ation Charter Inc y on the Gulf Dewy Restaurants LLC Dive Boat Plunger Dixie Electric Cars Double Eagle Party Boats Double Hook Charters Double Up Charters E Photography East Pass Investors, LLC Emerald C's Development Compnay Emerald Grande LLC Entertainer Charters LLC Finest Kind Charters Fish Head Charters Fish Hunter Charters Fishing Charters of Naples Fishy Bizzness Florida Coast Charters For Reel Photos Ft Walton Glass Company

5 Full Draw Charters LLC Goodtimes Marina and Motel Gulf Breeze Bait & Tackle Gulfstream Gulfstream II Charters HarborWalk Charters, LLC HarborWalk Holding, LLC HarborWalk Hospitality, LLC HarborWalk LLC HarborWalk Marina HarborWalk Owners Association, Inc. High Cotton Inc Islander Resorts Jackacuda's Sea Food and Sushi Jerrys Cajun Restaurant Jetty East Resorts Legendary Hospitality, LLC Clearwater Miramar Beach Clearwater Clearwater Pensacola Santa Rosa Beach Pensacola

6 Naples Naples Naples Naples Clearwater Fort Walton Beach Steinhatchee Gulf Breeze Clearwater Clearwater Pensacola Legendary Inc. Light Tackle and Fly Lively's Gulf Charters Marine Wildlife Response

7 Miss Nautica Inc Mojo Sportswear New Florida Girl Charters Norris Property Inspection Olin Marler Boats Inc On A Mission Charters Pair of Dice charters ParadfiseBeach Homes Paradise Bar and Grill Paradise Motel Pelican Adventures LLC Pelican Beach Resort Pelican Pointe, LLC Pescador Charters Inc Proffitt Public Relations Queen Fleet Party Boats Real Estate Professionals of Reel Deal Charters Reel Easy Charters Regatta Bay Golf and Country Club Rocked up charters Sandpiper Cove Rentals Savory Restaurants LLC Scales and Tails Charters Screamndrag Charters Inc

8 Seminole Wind Charter Fishing Silver King Inc Silver Lining Charters Snoopy Charters Special K Inc Steinhatchee Retreats LLC Sunrise Properties, Inc. Sure Lure Charter Sweet Jody Inc Swoop Boats I and II Tom Cat Charters Tom McLaughlin Another Keeper Charters Utility Service Company Windes Brothers & Associates, Inc. Naples Pensacola Fort Walton Beach Fort Walton Beach Niceville Naples Steinhatchee Pensacola Pensacola Pensacola Clearwater Clearwater Pensacola Niceville Clearwater Panama City Clearwater Steinhatchee Clearwater Pensacola Pensacola

9 Windes Enterprise Inc Windes Sport Fishing, Inc. Windwalker Charters Workboat Michael Scott, Inc.

Herb Malone, Jr. President/CEO. Alabama Gulf Coast CVB

Tourism on Alabama s Gulf Coast Herb Malone, Jr. President/CEO Alabama Gulf Coast CVB Total Accommodations Units 18,000 16,000 15,869 14,000 12,520 12,481 12,000 10,000 9,495 8,000 7,160 6,000 4,000