All this talk of other groups reminds me of something important about another issue in DC right now.

Of all the organizations working on the Magnuson Re-authorization process, only a few are actually representing recreational fishing (RFA and Coastal Conservation Association are all I actually know of). But their are a bunch of enviro organizations running around DC pushing thier agendas, some of which are good, but often completely counter to what we are trying to accomplish as a user group.

What has been a problem is that many sportfishing clubs have in some way affiliated themselves with these groups on some issue and these groups have now been claiming to represent sportfishers when lobbying for thier own agenda. The problem has become significant enough that we have put up a section of the RFA website dedicated to distributing information about certain enviro groups that are causing grief.

I would encourage all of you who belong to any fishing club or organization to review any associations you may have and ensure that your views are really being passed along correctly. RFA has gotten to the point where we have asked all of our affliate groups to send in letters to our main office to name RFA as the organization who should be representing them specifically for the Magnuson re-authorization process. That option is available to non-affialiate groups as well.