UASC's Bill Ray Memorial Conservation Award Will Go to Dana Wharf Sportfishing's Don Hansen

  United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) has announced plans for its First Annual Summer BBQ & Awards Banquet, scheduled to take place Sunday, August 1^st at the famous Mike Raahauges Shooting Enterprises facility in Corona, California.

  After 18 consecutive annual awards dinners in formal "banquet hall" settings, the 2010 event marks a significant departure for this most important fundraising activity of the year.    "This event is going to be different - and better - in many ways," said UASC President Steven Fukuto.  "It's going to be held outdoors in a much more casual and relaxed atmosphere.   This wonderful facility is not only a great place for a hearty meal in the fresh air, it will allow us to enjoy activities like casting contests and fishing in a catch-and-release catfish pond.  I can't thank Mike Raahauge and the folks at Raahauges enough for all their support," added Fukuto.

  This location and BBQ dinner format allows UASC to charge only $50 per ticket (compared to $100 in recent years), while still providing a sumptuous authentic Santa Maria style tri-tip BBQ feast and an entry ticket for the grand door prize for each attendee.    Even while charging significantly less, a greater portion of the money from ticket sales will go directly to support UASC's many important activities and actions.

  Raising money is more vital than ever, now that UASC is spearheading the statewide Ocean Access Protection Fund (OAPF) legal fundraising effort and is actively engaged in a lawsuit seeking proper resolution of the California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative.   "Since we announced the formation of OAPF in June, we've had lots of anglers emailing and calling us asking what they can do to help.  One of the biggest thing anglers can do is come to our awards dinner and bring some friends.    Funds raised from this event will be dedicated to supporting our legal actions benefiting all California anglers.  Needless to say, there's a lot on the line.  To win, we need the support of the industry, fishing clubs and individual anglers," said Fukuto.

While this awards dinner will be different in many ways, it will also share many things with past successful events.    It will feature great food, good times with fellow fishermen and boatloads of valuable prizes.   This year's Grand Door Prize is an all-inclusive Baja fishing trip to La Paz, Mexico.   This amazing package - valued at $1,500 - includes four nights lodging, three days of fishing and round-trip airfare for two.  There will also be a variety of valuable raffle and silent auction prizes, ranging from fishing tackle and fishing trips to electronics and more.

  Honoring a person who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in the service of conservation and recreational fishing over the previous year will remain a key theme for this event.    UASC plans to present the 2010 Bill Ray Memorial Award - the organization's highest conservation honor - to Don Hansen, owner of Dana Wharf Sportfishing.  Hansen will join a prestigious list of fishing visionaries who have received this honor over the years, including Bart Hall, Peggie Shedd, Bill Beebe, Russ Izor, Senator Dede Alpert, Bob Fletcher and Thomas Pfleger.   There will be many other important awards and recognitions, including the presentation of the Paul Simon Club Conservation Award to a deserving Southern California fishing club.

  Cocktail hour will be from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., with dinner scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.  The awards and raffle portion of the evening will begin at 5 p.m. and will continue until 7 p.m.

  Raahauges is located at 14995 River Road in Corona, between the 91, 60, 71 and 15 freeways.  Anglers can visit www.raahauges.com/find-raahauges.php for detailed driving directions.

 For more information on this event visit www.unitedanglers.com  or call UASC headquarters at (562) 494-9900.    For tickets, please contact Tim Baker at tim@fredhall.com

  Leading Law Firm Onboard, First Action Filed Against Flawed MLPA Implementation Process

SIGNAL HILL, Calif. (June 11, 2010) - Non-profit fishing and conservation organization United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) announced today that it will spearhead the newly founded Ocean Access Protection Fund. This statewide fundraising effort will collect and channel resources needed for legal challenges to the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) implementation process, brought on behalf of California anglers and all outdoors enthusiasts concerned with maintaining public recreational access. The announcement was made by Steven Fukuto, president of this 21-year-old organization with thousands of sustaining and associate members.  

According to Fukuto, the fund was created to support legal causes of action against policies that do not recognize the conservation efforts of fishermen and impact recreational anglers' access to the ocean. The MLPA is the first project being undertaken by the organizers of the fund.  

UASC will direct this effort in collaboration with the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO) and its industry/conservation partners, which include - in addition to UASC - the American Sportfishing Association, Berkley Conservation Institute, supporting members of the Avalon Tuna Club, Coastside Fishing Club, International Game Fish Association, Kayak Fishing Association of California, National Marine Manufacturers Association, NorCal Kayak Anglers,  Shimano Sport Fisheries Institute, Southern California Marine Association, Sportfishing Association of California and Watermen's Alliance.   

"With our fundraising experience and years of involvement on the front lines of recreational access issues, UASC was the logical choice to head up this important effort for all Californians," said Fukuto. "However, we certainly won't be doing this alone. We'll be relying on close coordination with industry partners and cooperative teamwork with key regional allies such as the Coastside Fishing Club in the northern part of the state. The level of talent and commitment we have at our disposal gives us good reason to be hopeful," added Fukuto.  

In preparation for continuing statewide challenges to the MLPA implementation process, UASC has retained the services of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Malloy & Latsis LLP. This prestigious law firm, founded in 1977, has more than 210 California attorneys practicing in five strategically based offices in Orange County, Los Angeles, Century City, San Diego and San Francisco. The California anglers' legal team will be headed by Marv Garrett, highly experienced attorney-at-law, avid saltwater fisherman and associate member of the prestigious Avalon Tuna Club.  

"We began the MLPA process in a spirit of cooperation and engagement, eager to work towards sound marine conservation with minimal economic and recreational impact," said Fukuto. "Over time, however, it became clear that those managing the process were focused only on reaching a predetermined end, and were all too willing to introduce questionable science and ignore economics and legal procedure to get there. The many flaws and contradictions of this process in Southern, Central and Northern Central California are now a matter of public record, and we plan to use these to full advantage as we challenge the process in the courts. After all, there's nothing anglers love more than a good fight."  

Plans are moving ahead for a variety of fundraising activities, sportfishing industry initiatives and future events to increase awareness and support for this critical effort, including the establishment of a new fund website . Contributions made to the fund will be used expressly for this purpose. "It's come down to this - California's well-funded corporate environmentalism machine against the family angler," remarked Fukuto. "This is our last best chance to make a stand, and it will take a unified effort from the industry and every concerned California outdoorsman to succeed."

To learn more about supporting this effort and stay on top of future developments, events and fundraising activities, call UASC headquarters at (562) 494-9900, visit www.unitedanglers.com or visit the United Anglers of Southern California page on Facebook. In the near future, a separate website capable of accepting online contributions will be up and running at oceanaccessprotectionfund.org.

###

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 2, 2010) — The law firm of Allen, Matkins, Leck, Gamble, Mallory & Natsis, LLP, acting on behalf of United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) and petitioner Robert C. Fletcher, filed suit in California Superior Court Friday, May 28, 2010 against the Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF), the Marine Life Protection Act Master Plan Team (aka Science Advisory Team) and additional related defendants. According to the firm and UASC President Steven Fukuto, this action is the first step of a multi-stage litigation process. 

The verified petition for writ of mandate and complaint was filed at the Sacramento County Courthouse for violation of the California Public Records Act, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. The suit is tied to numerous requests made by the petitioner for key documents and  records pertaining to California’s Marine Life Protection Act implementation process. The BRTF and Science Advisory Team failed to respond to these requests.   

Fletcher commented on his petition and said, "It is my contention that both the BRTF and the Master Plan Team are subject to the requirements of the California Public Records Act. As such, their refusal to respond to my requests for certain MLPA related records and documents is a direct violation of that Act. According to California law, any person may institute proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief or writ of mandate in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce their right to inspect or to receive a copy of any public record. This is a necessary first step to allow a thorough and careful scrutinizing of the entire MLPA process." 

 This effort is being spearheaded by 501(c)(3) non-profit United Anglers of Southern California with the support of the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO) and its members, which includes — in addition to UASC — the American Sportfishing Association, Berkley Conservation Institute, supporting members of the Avalon Tuna Club, Coastside Fishing Club, International Game Fish Association, Kayak Fishing Association of California, National Marine Manufacturers Association, NorCal Kayak Anglers, Shimano Sport Fisheries Institute, Sportfishing Association of California, Southern California Marine Association and Watermen’s Alliance.  

“It has become more and more evident that the MLPA process is being steered off course by special interests — and political motivations — with dangerous potential for restricting many popular areas enjoyed by fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts,” said Fukuto. “As Robert Fletcher said, this filing is a necessary and important first step in what will be an ongoing and thorough examination of this flawed process. Our legal team has identified several potential causes for action, and we will aggressively pursue any and all legal avenues to protect recreational access for fishermen and all Californians.” 
 

“Once again, Mike Lum and the team at the Fred Hall & Associates have helped us collect pre-owned rods and reels during the recent Long Beach and San Diego shows, said UASC President Steven Fukuto.   “This gear donated by generous anglers will help us in two important ways.  Some of it will be used as loaner tackle on our many youth fishing trips, while others will be sold during the Garage Sale to help raise funds for our many programs,” added Fukuto.  

UASC’s 2010 Garage Sale Fundraiser will be part of AFTCO’s 20^th (and final) Parking Lot Sale, held in the parking lot of AFTCO’s headquarters at 17351 Murphy Avenue, east of the San Diego Freeway off Jamboree in Irvine.   AFTCO will have hundreds of items at bargain prices, including seconds and discontinued AFTCO Bluewater and Guy Harvey men’s and ladies’ clothing.   Both the UASC Garage Sale Fundraiser and the AFTCO sale will take place rain or shine.

UNITED ANGLERS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NAMES FOUR NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

New UASC Leaders Reflect Diverse Backgrounds, Years of Angling and Conservation Experience

January 8, 2010 — United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) announced today that four new representatives have joined the non-profit fishing/conservation organization’s board of directors.  The announcement was made by UASC President Steven Fukuto.

“We are very pleased to have Will Ebersman, John Gaebel, Ben Hamilton and Steve Lee joining our esteemed board of directors,” said Fukuto.  “Each of these gentlemen brings a unique combination of angling and life experience that will benefit our organization and all Southern California recreational fisherman.  I’m looking forward to their input and strong leadership as we move into a very critical time for recreational anglers,” added Fukuto.