We the People, feel certain Federal governmental agencies and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, along with certain environmental groups, have misrepresented facts and figures to substantiate their proposed closures of deep water snapper and grouper fishing from the northernmost state of North Carolina to the waters of the Dry Tortugas off the southern tip of Florida.

Provisions in Amendment 17B presented by the South Atlantic Council and set for implementation in January of 2011 will deny access to deepwater snapper and grouper fishermen from 240’ of water out to the furthest most point of the EEZ or 200 miles, whichever is greater, under the guise of protecting Warsaw grouper and Speckled Hind.

Amendment 17B will literally kill what remains of Monroe County, Florida’s commercial, recreational and tourism related fishing and diving businesses, thus, putting hundreds, if not thousands of residents out of business.  If enacted, Amendment 17B will have extremely negative impacts on our unemployment rate, foreclosures, homelessness, restaurants, hotels and attractions.

We respectfully ask you to follow the intelligent lead of our Congresswoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.  Hear her voice, as she has heard ours, and knows first-hand the devastation this amendment will cause should it be passed.

We ask that you remember, it is We the People who have the power to make change each election year.  Please do not take away the livelihood the Florida Keys were founded upon. 

REVOKE Amendment 17B now!