Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association. Charter boats of Stellwagen and the western Gulf of Maine.

Meetings are suspended until the end of the 2008 season and will commence in September

Thanks to Chris Weiner from Choir Coalition for an outstanding presentation of the damages caused by large scale trawling to the Bait fish and hearing stocks in the western Atlantic. This is probably the number one reason for the decline of the giant tuna population and other species of marine life in our oceans today. Countries like Canada who have put in place laws regarding inshore fishing in large scale have had no decline in tuna stocks. While our country still allows and sometimes promotes large scale fishing is losing or has already lost its population of fish. Please support Chris and our crusade to stop non-discriminatory fishing practices.

The Division of Marine Fisheries (Marine Fisheries) will hold three public meetings the week of April 1st to gather comment on a public information document detailing proposed use of ground fish assistance funds. The 2008 Congressional Appropriations Conference Report set aside $13,395,000 to the Division of Marine Fisheries to alleviate economic impacts associated with Framework 42 regulations on the Massachusetts ground fish fishery.

The Division of Marine Fisheries (Marine Fisheries) is working with a state Drafting Group and an Industry Subcommittee to develop a final grant proposal for these funds. Preliminary recommendations for funding will be presented during the public meetings. A final grant proposal will be submitted to NOAA Fisheries by April 15^th.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008 (5:30PM)Whaler Banquet and Conference Center 500 Hathaway Road, New Bedford

Wednesday, April 2, 2008 (5:30PM)Radisson Hotel – Plymouth Harbor180Water St., Plymouth

Thursday, April 3, 2008 (5:30PM)Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station 30 Emerson Ave., Gloucester

Discussion on the Twic card transportation workers card you must have before September of this year more information available at the website. US department of Homeland Security

Tom Depersia discussed the results of numerous fishing regulations proposed by NEMFS and other agency's. Tom is attending many meetings regarding the 2008 season and will be speaking about the results and our responses to the proposed issues. Congress OK's $13.4M in emergency fishing industry aid I would strongly encourage Massachusetts' party and charter operators, whose businesses have been negatively (and, frankly unfairly ) impacted by government restrictions on ground fish, to demand at least one-half ($6.52M) of the aid, given that we were excluded from all previous programs. (View this Article)

Dinner and beverages served during the meeting. Topics include new fishing regulations for Ground fish and Tuna. Bring your friends who are interested in the charter fishing industry Captains and Mates should attend, Raffle Held Every Meeting .

Thanks to Ralph Pratt for his informative Talk and awesome Tuna video of what it is like to harpoon Giant tuna. His concerns for the discards of Breading Giant Tuna that federally protected in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico are a real concern for the future of these big breading stock fish. We should rally behind Ralph if we want to preserve our fish stocks in New England. Non discriminatory fishing methods such as Long lines and Nets could be causing some real damage to the Eastern Atlantic Blue fin Tuna Stocks. We will be adding more information Regarding this topic soon.

~ SBCBA is Growing to Protect the Rights of Recreational and For Hire Fisherman! ~