Legislative Alert: Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Meeting Regarding Goliath Grouper

Meeting in St. Augustine, Florida, Also Includes Draft Rules for Shore Based Shark Fishing and Marine Life Harvest While Diving at the Blue Heron Bridge

A meeting of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and open to the public, will take place on December 12 and 13 at 8:30 am in St. Augustine, Florida.

The FWC Commission meeting will include a Staff review and discussion on the next steps for Goliath Grouper research and management. This presentation will include an overview of current and future Goliath Grouper research. Staff will present information on how recent events, such as Hurricane Irma and the 2018 red tide, have impacted Goliath Grouper. Staff will seek direction on adopting a management goal for Goliath Grouper in state waters.

You may recall that DEMA favors continuing the current moratorium on harvesting the Goliath Grouper. In the recent past, DEMA surveyed members of the Diving Industry and determined that 73% of divers responding favored continuing the moratorium.

DEMA’s President and CEO, Tom Ingram and Legislative Advocate, Bob Harris will be in attendance at this meeting to provide DEMA’s position to the Committee. YOUR public comments and input are also needed at this meeting; public comments opposed to lifting the moratorium could help prevent the future harvesting of this animal, which is slow to mature and reproduce.  There are substantial arguments against harvest, some of which can be foundhere.  Without your public comments, the status of the current moratorium could change in the near future allowing harvesting of the Goliath Grouper for the first time since 1990.  If you dive in Florida or live there, such a change in the moratorium status could impact your ability (and your customers’ ability) to see these animals.

This meeting will also include several Draft Rules important to the Florida Diving Industry; Draft Rules on Shore-based Shark Fishing, which has been shown to result in the killing of at-risk shark species such as the Great Hammerhead and Tiger, and Draft Rules on Marine Life Harvest at Blue Heron Bridge in Palm Beach County. 

The FWC meeting agenda and topics planned can be found on the FWC website here.

Time:	8:30 am
Dates:	December 12 - 13, 2018
Place:	Renaissance World Golf Village  500 South Legacy Trail  St. Augustine, Florida 32092

The meetings are scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on December 12 and 13, 2018.  However, as of this writing, the discussion of Goliath Grouper is scheduled for the afternoon of December 12.  Please note that the time and date of this discussion could change.

DEMA urges all professional members of the diving community to join DEMA in attending these meetings to offer public comment in favor of maintaining the current moratorium on harvest of the Goliath Grouper.  Public comments will be accepted at the end of each meeting day.  More diving community voices will be helpful. 

For those unable to attend or wishing to submit comments prior the beginning of the Committee meeting, send your written comments to Commissioners@MyFWC.com.

DEMA Expands Disaster Assistance Program to Aid Show Exhibitors and Buyers Impacted by the California Camp and Woolsey Fires

**Funds Available to Assist DEMA Member Exhibitors and Buyers of DEMA Show 2018 **

The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) announced today that the DEMA Board of Directors has approved the expansion of the 2018 DEMA Disaster Assistance Program to include DEMA-Member Show Exhibitors and Buyers impacted by the California Camp and Woolsey fires.

DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program was previously activated on October 16 to include those who were affected by Hurricane Michael in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and expanded on November 2 to include those impacted by Typhoon Yutu.  This additional expansion will account for exhibitors and buyers impacted by wildfires that began in California during the week of November October 5^th. DEMA-Member companies who were negatively impacted by these fires and who planned to exhibit at DEMA Show 2018 are eligible to apply for the funds to help them exhibit. Buyers who planned to attend DEMA Show can also apply for funds to assist in staying onsite at DEMA Show. 

"DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to Member manufacturers, destinations and other industry-related entities to aid them in getting to and exhibiting at DEMA Show 2018,” said Tom Ingram, President and CEO of DEMA.  “Registered Buyers from DEMA Member businesses who are staying in the DEMA hotel block are also eligible for funds to assist in attending DEMA Show so they can buy the products and services they need to keep their businesses in operation.”

Exhibitor Assistance Program: DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to 2018 DEMA-Member Exhibitors who are fully paid by 5:00 PM Pacific time, September 21, 2018, and physically located in the affected mandatory evacuation areas of Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. 

For each 100 net square feet of exhibit space purchased and paid for by September 21, 2018, DEMA will provide regular DEMA-Member Exhibitors with $US 400.00 in assistance.  Funds will be awarded onsite at DEMA Show 2018 to the exhibiting companies who apply and fall within the guidelines deeming them eligible for assistance. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum available from the DEMA disaster assistance fund. All interested parties must apply for the assistance funds on site at DEMA Show at DEMA Central in Las Vegas, NV prior to close of DEMA Show at 5:00 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2018.

For more information and to receive a DEMA 2018 Disaster Assistance Fund Processing form visit DEMA Central in Booth #1858 at DEMA Show 2018 in Las Vegas, NV. Complete rules for disbursements will be available onsite at DEMA Show.

Attendee Assistance Program:  Impacted DEMA-Member Buyers who are registered for the Show and staying in the official DEMA Show hotel block at The Westgate Las Vegas Resort are eligible for reimbursement as follows; One registered Buyer from an attending DEMA-Member business physically located in the affected mandatory evacuation areas of Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties can receive reimbursement for a one-night hotel stay (single occupancy) in the DEMA hotel block prior to midnight Pacific time, November 16, 2018. The complete rules for disbursement will be available at DEMA Central onsite at DEMA Show 2018.

The designated Buyer from an affected DEMA Member must apply for the disaster funds and present the receipt for the hotel stay through the DEMA Office prior to close of business on December 6, 2018.   Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum of the DEMA disaster assistance fund.  Exhibitors are not eligible for hotel reimbursement assistance under this program but can receive Exhibitor Assistance as described above.

DEMA Board of Directors to Meet in Las Vegas, NV on November 12th

DEMA’s 2018 Board of Directors will meet on November 12th in Las Vegas, NV in conjunction with DEMA Show 2018 in final preparations for the Show and to plan for 2019.

The Board Meeting will include a review and discussion of Board self-evaluations that will be completed by DEMA Board members prior to the end of the year.  These self-evaluations provide an opportunity for the Board to review their own 2018 activities and ensure that they continue to perform their strategic role.  The group will also receive an update from the DEMA Staff on DEMA Show 2018 and re-affirm the scheduled 2019 Board Meeting dates.

The Board meeting will conclude with an “Open Session” to discuss relevant Member business. During this time, current DEMA Members are invited to participate by bringing their topics of interest to discuss with the Board. (Please note: The Board Meeting will be held at the Executive Board Room at the Westgate Hotel and the Open Session is anticipated to begin at 2:30 pm. However, delays could occur due to unfinished business in the closed session portion of the meeting.) The Board Meeting will conclude following the Open Session.

More information on DEMA’s Board of Directors and Bylaws is available on the DEMA website. Complete minutes from past Board of Directors Meetings are available to current DEMA Members from the Member Dashboard of www.dema.org. The next Board of Directors Meeting will be held in February in San Diego, CA.

DEMA Expands Disaster Assistance Program to Aid Show Exhibitors and Buyers Impacted by Typhoon Yutu

**Funds Available to Assist DEMA Member Exhibitors and Buyers of DEMA Show 2018 **

The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) announced today that the DEMA Board of Directors has approved the expansion of the 2018 DEMA Disaster Assistance Program to include DEMA-Member Show Exhibitors and Buyers impacted by Typhoon Yutu.

DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program was previously activated on October 16 to include those who were affected by Hurricane Michael in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  This expansion will account for exhibitors and buyers impacted when Typhoon Yutu went through the Northern Mariana Islands on October 23, 2018.  DEMA-Member companies who were negatively impacted by this large storm and who planned to exhibit at DEMA Show 2018 are eligible to apply for the funds to help them exhibit. Buyers who planned to attend DEMA Show can also apply for funds to assist in staying onsite at DEMA Show. 

"DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to Member manufacturers, destinations and other industry-related entities to aid them in getting to and exhibiting at DEMA Show 2018,” said Tom Ingram, President and CEO of DEMA.  “Registered Buyers from DEMA Member businesses who are staying in the DEMA hotel block are also eligible for funds to assist in attending DEMA Show so they can buy the products and services they need to keep their businesses in operation.”

Exhibitor Assistance Program: DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to 2018 DEMA-Member Exhibitors who are fully paid by 5:00 PM Pacific time, September 21, 2018, and physically located in the Northern Mariana Islands including Guam. 

For each 100 net square feet of exhibit space purchased and paid for by September 21, 2018, DEMA will provide regular Exhibitors with $US 400.00 in assistance.  Funds will be awarded onsite at DEMA Show 2018 to the exhibiting companies who apply and fall within the guidelines deeming them eligible for assistance. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum available from the DEMA disaster assistance fund. All interested parties must apply for the assistance funds on site at DEMA Show at DEMA Central in Las Vegas, NV prior to close of DEMA Show at 5:00 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2018.

For more information and to receive a DEMA 2018 Disaster Assistance Fund Processing form visit DEMA Central in Booth #1858 at DEMA Show 2018 in Las Vegas, NV. Complete rules for disbursements will be available onsite at DEMA Show.

Attendee Assistance Program: Impacted DEMA Member Buyers who are registered for the Show and staying in the official DEMA Show hotel block at The Westgate Las Vegas Resort are eligible for reimbursement as follows; One registered Buyer from an attending DEMA Member business physically located in the affected areas can receive reimbursement for a one-night hotel stay (single occupancy) in the DEMA hotel block prior to midnight Pacific time, November 16, 2018. The complete rules for disbursement will be available at DEMA Central onsite at DEMA Show 2018.

Designated disaster areas eligible for Buyer funds include the Norther Mariana Islands, including Guam. The designated Buyer from an affected DEMA Member must apply for the disaster funds and present the receipt for the hotel stay through the DEMA Office prior to close of business on December 6, 2018.   Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum of the DEMA disaster assistance fund.  Exhibitors are not eligible for hotel reimbursement assistance under this program but can receive Exhibitor Assistance as described above.