| First, I would like to express my thanks to the
GSSA Board of Directors and membership for their vote of confidence in
electing me the President of this new and exciting organization. The New
Jersey commercial fishing industry has, for many years, needed a statewide
organization to represent all facets of commercial fishing. I believe we
finally have that organization in GSSA.
During the past several months I have visited with many of the docks
in New Jersey and have spoken with the owners and fishermen about some
of the problems facing our industry today. We are facing a multitude of
serious problems in our industry that, in many cases, threaten our ability
to stay in business. These problems, both State and Federal, need to be
addressed by an industry that is standing together and speaking with one
voice. We must work together to better communicate to our elected officials
the reality that commercial fishermen and commercial fishing is a vital
part of the coastal communities that we live in as well as being critically
important to the rest of the Nation. After all, if we're out of business
how will the rest of the Nation be able to enjoy fresh, wholesome American
seafood?
I urge all of you to get involved in our organization. We need your
help in many ways. One of the most important goals of this Association
needs to be better communication of events that are affecting our businesses.
We hope to achieve this by informing you on a weekly basis, by fax, of
those issues we feel are of interest to you. However, we need your assistance
to accomplish this. Many of you are actively involved in the issues that
are most critical to your businesses. If you are attending a fisheries
management meeting of any sort we need to know the results so that we can
keep the rest of the membership informed. We need to know your concerns
and positions so that we can better assist you. Please call or fax us the
information that we need to keep the rest of the industry informed. Only
by receiving your input can we begin to take positions on those issues
affecting you.
I am confident that we can succeed and thrive as an industry in the
future by working together today. We are well represented in Trenton by
Martin-Bontempo, Inc., and in Washington by Robertson, Monagle and Eastaugh.
Both of these firms will work hard to be sure that our agenda is heard.
Let's be sure we give them the information and assistance they need to
succeed.
In closing I urge you to keep up the fight. Like all of you I am
proud to be in the commercial fishing industry as it is an historical and
honorable industry and well worth fighting for.
Sincerely,
Jeff Reichle
Lund's Fisheries, Cape May, NJ |
