It won’t come as a shock to anyone reading these words that recreational anglers often have a difficult time getting the powers that be to listen to their concerns. In fact, we’re generally the last user group to get considered, if we’re considered at all. A lack of representation is the biggest challenge. Commercial fishermen are organized, charter boats are organized, and other interests that impact fishing due to water quality and habitat issues—ranging from home builders to chemical plants—are all organized. Meanwhile, we anglers have one lone voice in the woods: the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA). CCA does a great job of pressing our interests in Maryland, and more and more so in Virginia as well. In fact, anyone interested enough in fishing to pick up this copy of FishTalk really should be a member. But with few allies at the table, other interests can drown this one voice out.
We do also have the Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association, which helps with matters south of the MD/VA border. And as most of you know, in Maryland we once had the Maryland Saltwater Sportfisherman’s Association (MSSA). At one time it was the largest recreational fishing organization in the state, with thousands of members and dozens of chapters. But, as most of you also know, its executive director David J. Smith—long may his name live in infamy—embezzled the organization into bankruptcy and effectively killed it. Many of the former MSSA chapters devolved into local fishing clubs and remained active in one form or another, but fragmented and disparate, they became politically moot. MSSA’s seat at the table, expressing the needs and wants of the recreational fishing community, was gone. And no organized voice moved in to fill the gap - until now.
For the past year and a half or so, the different clubs have been discussing potential ways of reforming within a new umbrella coalition of sorts. Last winter a Memorandum of Understanding was drafted, and this spring six clubs decided to band together as the Anglers Club Coalition of Maryland (ACCM). The Annapolis Anglers Club (of which I’m a member), the Atlantic Coast Sportfishing Association, the Essex-Middle River Fishing Club, the Kent Island Fisherman’s Club, the Mid-Shore Fishing Club, and the Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization, have all signed on. They’ve also unanimously elected a gent by the name of Francis Zell to be the ACCM representative, our point-person to communicate the views and goals of the recreational angling community as different fisheries issues arise.
Francis is a lifelong Chesapeake Bay angler, an educator and school administrator, and a small-scale farmer. He’s been trained in public speaking, leadership, and research-based best practice management, and I have zero doubt that he’ll zealously represent our interests. I heard him speak for the first time as the ACCM representative at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission public meeting on Chesapeake Bay industrial menhaden harvest this summer, and felt he did an excellent job of expressing the position of anglers on the matter. And since then he’s been working behind the scenes to meet key players in fisheries management and the recreational fishing community.
“It always shocked me how commercial fishermen are united, charter boats all have a common goal, yet recreational fishermen can’t get organized enough to have a powerful voice and end up getting the shortest end of the stick despite being the largest user group,” Francis said, in his introduction to the clubs. “My only real agenda is for future generations to be able to experience the amazing fishery that I did in my younger years. I see this as an opportunity to make that a reality.”
Thanks to the willingness of the fishing club officers and members to band together, and thanks to Francis stepping up and leading the charge, we once again will have another voice. With the club memberships combined the ACCM carries the weight of thousands of anglers, and regulators and lawmakers will have to pay heed as they once did with the MSSA.
You can help the ACCM in its mission right now, simply by showing up at your local fishing club’s next meeting and joining the group (they’re a lot of fun, BTW!). We hope that in the future additional fishing clubs will decide to sign on to the ACCM Memorandum and swell the ranks. And you can boost the fishing community’s sway even more by also joining CCA if you haven’t already.
We all know that anglers have lacked an effective voice, especially in Maryland, since the demise of the MSSA. Finally, that’s changing. Long live the ACCM!
ACCM Memorandum of Understanding Highlights
The important stuff without the legalese.
Mission statement: Communicate a cohesive and clear message to the State of Maryland and other regulatory bodies (such as but not limited to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission “ASMFC” and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council “MAFMC”), regarding fisheries issues and regulations as they relate to and impact upon recreational anglers.
To accomplish this goal:
- The clubs agree to organize under this MoU as the Angler’s Club Coalition of Maryland (ACCM).
- ACCM is to remain explicitly apolitical and is intended solely to advocate in the interest of recreational anglers in Maryland. It shall take no political positions nor support any political candidates or office holders.
- ACCM is to be a volunteer organization.
The clubs share the following objectives, which shall become the objectives of ACCM:
- Full and due consideration by the State and other regulatory bodies of the recreational angling community’s interests and concerns during the promulgation of fisheries-related policies and regulations.
- Maintain and expand recreational angling access.
- Enhance communication between the clubs and the angling community, so club members and recreational anglers are aware of issues, regulations, and situations that do or may in the future impact recreational fishing in Maryland.
- Address unforeseen matters that may arise in the future which impact recreational anglers in the state of Maryland and its related fisheries.
Clubs or organizations interested in joining or learning more about ACCM can email [email protected] to be put in contact with Francis.