Dear North Carolina NCBBA members,

As some of you are already aware, legislation has been introduced in this Congress to help provide relief to the businesses, residents and visitors to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. The bill would overturn a consent decree issued by a federal judge that has imposed unreasonable and unnecessary restrictions on off road vehicle (ORV) access in the seashore, which in turn severely affects the ability to access prime surf fishing locations and local businesses. The Consent Decree went into effect last year, and is scheduled to remain in effect for at least another 16 months. The legislation would provide relief by nullifying the consent decree and reinstating an Interim Protected Species Management Plan, which provides for more than adequate protections for wildlife while still allowing for reasonable ORV access. The relief is sorely needed for the businesses located in and around Hatteras.

ASA has sent the below thank you note to Senators Burr and Hagan for their sponsorship of S. 1557, as well as a similar letter to Rep. Jones for his introduction of H.R. 718. We would encourage you to send a similar note to the Senators and Congressman to express your appreciation for their willingness to fight for the businesses of NC and reasonable sportfishing access. And I believe the local businesses in and around Hatteras would appreciate your support as well. The letters should be personalized for your company, sent from the head of the company, on company letterhead, and faxed directly to respective Senate or House offices. Please let me know if you are able to send a letter.

Also, if you happen to be located in Congressman Mike McIntyre's district (7^th District) please consider sending a letter to him requesting that he cosponsor Congr. Jones's bill (H.R. 718). His support is very important. To find out whose district you're located in, you can visit http://capwiz.com/keepamericafishing/home/, and look under "Find Your Officials."

All relevant contact information and sample letter text is below. And please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Contact Information:

The Honorable Richard Burr                                       The Honorable Kay R. Hagan

United State Senate                                                      United States Senate

217 Senate House Office Building                              521 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC  20510                                              Washington, DC  20510

Fax: (202) 228-2981                                                    Fax: (202) 228-2563

Congressman Walter B Jones (NC-3^rd)

2333 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
Fax: 202-225-3286

Congressman Mike McIntyre (NC-7^th)

2437 Rayburn House Office Bld.
Washington, DC 20515
fax (202) 225-5773

Start of Sample Letter Text:

Dear Senator Burr and Senator Hagan,

On behalf of the members of the American Sportfishing Association and the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association,  thank you for sponsoring S. 1557, a bill to reinstate the Interim Management Strategy governing off-road vehicle use in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area.

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry's trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice, speaking out when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America.

ASA also represents the interests of America's 60 million anglers who generate over $45 billion in retail sales, with a $125 billion impact on the nation's economy and creating employment for over one million people. In North Carolina, saltwater recreational fishing contributes over $900 million to the state's economy, including $58 million in state and local tax revenues and nearly 10,000 jobs.

The sportfishing industry and anglers are true conservationists who have directly invested in the conservation and management of fishery resources since the 1950s. In 1950 the Sport Fish Restoration Program was established with the passage of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act which placed a 10 percent excise tax on sportfishing equipment. This created a dedicated funding source to enhance freshwater and marine fishery resources throughout the country. In 2009, the State of North Carolina received $9.6 million for fishery conservation and enhancement from what is now called the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. This is in addition to the revenue generated from fishing licenses.

This background is provided to assure you that the sportfishing industry cares about the conservation of our nation's natural resources - including those at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area (CHNSRA.) We support the development of a long term management plan for off road vehicles (ORVs) and believe strongly that reasonable access to the beaches can be provided for ORVs while protecting nesting shorebirds and other wildlife. In 2007, a tough compromise was reached in the development of the Interim Protected Species Management Strategy (Interim Strategy) that provided strong protections for wildlife, while at the same time allowing for reasonable access to some of the most popular surf fishing locations on the East Coast.

The NPS maintains, and ASA agrees, that ORV's must be regulated in a manner that appropriately addresses resource protection-including protected, threatened and endangered species-and potential conflicts among the various CHNSRA users. However, this was addressed by the development of the Interim Strategy, which will provide ample protections for shorebirds until the final ORV Management Plan is complete and will help to save the economy and way-of-life of the Hatteras community - and the entire Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Thank you again for your sponsorship of this very important legislation. S. 1557 will reinstate a management strategy that underwent the appropriate review process, restoring reasonable ORV and pedestrian access to CHNSRA while providing appropriate shorebird and resource protection.  The enactment of S. 1557 will also provide relief for a community suffering economic consequences due to the Consent Decree.  ASA looks forward to working with you to ensure its passage.

Sincerely,