Southern Charm Charter Fishing

6240 105^th Terrace North Pinellas Park, FL 33782

Telephone: 727-546-7257

E-mail: captchas@flfish.com

http://www.floridasaltwater.com

4/16/00

Ms. Julie K. Morris, Chairman
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

Dear Ms. Morris,

As I wrote you in February, we have a major problem in the Tampa Bay area concerning our saltwater forage fish. Menhaden, Spanish sardines, scaled sardines, and threadfin herring have been depleted to the point of collapse by purse seining in the Tampa Bay area over the last thirty years.

I would appreciate it if you and the Commission would please address this in your May meeting in order to open discussions in the coming year. I have updated the short history of the Tampa Bay bait situation, which is attached.

Thank you for your consideration of this very important matter.

Sincerely,

Capt. Charles Walker

cc. Allan L. Egbert, Ph.D.

Russell Nelson
Florida Wildlife Federation

Tampa Bay Wildlife Federation

Florida League of Anglers

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