The City Fisher Interview

  Al Ovies, S.A.F.E.R. Spokesman Biographical Profile:

 The license plate on the front of my truck reads, “Cuban By Birth, Southern By The Grace of God,” and that pretty much describes where I’m at. I arrived in the U.S. back in 1960 at the age of 7. I lived most of my life in Miami, graduating from Coral Park High in 1971. I went to Georgia Tech for a couple of years, before going to work in the food service business. The early years of my career were spent traveling through the deep south opening restaurants. I spent time in Louisiana, Georgia, Texas and Tennessee. It was in Memphis that I got hit by the bass fishing bug, and in no time I was on my way back to sunny South Florida and Lake Okeechobee. I have been a member of the Trail Glades Basssmasters for nearly 20 years. I’m a big history buff, with emphasis on the Civil War and the Indian Wars. In my spare time I build true to scale wooden ship models.

City Fisher: First, what does "S.A.F.E.R." stand for?

 South Florida Anglers For Everglades Restoration, a name which we feel reflects our love of the great outdoors and bass fishing, while identifying us as environmentalists and conservationists.

City Fisher: And how did the need for this organization arise?

 The need to mobilize fishermen to prevent the filling in of the Everglades canals was driven home to us at the Corps of Engineers’public workshop held at Bass Pro Shops/Outdoor World on February 25, 2001. It was at this meeting that we first realized that there were plans in the making for filling in the canals that many of us have been fishing for decades. At the same time, one couldn’t help but notice that groups such as Sierra Club, Audubon, Friends of the Everglades, etc., were present in force, had a focused agenda, were organized and were extremely vocal. More important, their views were inimical to our interests. Many of us felt it was time to organize to protect our fishing grounds from encroachment by the Everglades Restoration Project.

City Fisher: Some may point out that there are other canals available to south Florida anglers. What makes these particular canals so special?

Bass fishermen have always considered themselves to be environmentalists and conservationists. For over twenty years, anglers participating in bass tournaments have been practicing “Catch and Release.”  In doing so, we have nurtured a fantastic fishery. According to studies by the Fla. Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission conducted over the past few years, the Everglades canals have hosted over 335 permitted tournaments, with 7583 anglers combining to catch 14,711 bass weighing an incredible 32, 081 pounds. A survey of the L-67A Canal shows that, in quest of the elusive largemouth bass, fishermen pumped over $1,120,000, into the local economy in a six month period. That’s $41,000 for every mile of canal. As you know, there are 258 miles of canal system.

City Fisher: The Everglades is obviously a vital ecological component of south Florida (in addition to also providing a recreational resource). Are there alternatives to these proposed actions that will still accomplish the same restoration goals?  

SAFER believes that the goals of establishing the necessary sheetflow of water that scientists maintain is needed for Everglades Restoration, can be accomplished by degrading the levees, and plugging the canals, but not backfilling them. The canals become obstacles to sheetflow only if they are used a means of conveying water. As of now, there is no scientific proof available that filling in the canals is necessary. All the hydrological modeling that has been conducted by the South Florida Water Management District start with the premise of backfilling the canals to achieve sheetflow. SAFER is looking for SFWMD to conduct hydrological modeling which leaves the canals in place.

City Fisher: Are there any precedents for anglers having an influence on policies within the Everglades?

This is not the first time the Corps of Engineers has tried to block recreational access throughout the canal system. In the early 90’s, the Corps of Engineers (COE) made their first effort to deny fishermen full access to the canals. The plan called for the building of a series of locks on the L-67A Canal in an attempt to divert water into WCA 3B, then down into North Shark River Slough. Hard lobbying by the Miami-based Fisherman Against the Destruction of the Everglades (FADE), stayed the Corps of Engineers’ hand on that particular issue, but the organizational culture that supported the closure of the  L-67 Canal to anglers, remained in place. Ten years later, the public’s message to the Corps of Engineers remained the same. At a public meeting, held on Feb. 6, 2001, to discuss Tamiami Trail Modifications under the auspices of Modified Water Delivery, the  meeting summary states, “The public voiced the desire to maintain recreational access in the project area and have consistently requested maintaining the canal for recreational fishing/boat access from L-29 to Holiday Park, which would require not removing L-67.” They are still not listening.

City Fisher: And what are your primary methods of accomplishing your goals?

SAFER has taken a two-prong approach to preventing the filling in of the Everglades canals. We have worked hard to increase the public’s awareness of the Corps’ plans. Over and over again, we have heard from recreational fishermen and hunters that they were not aware of what was being planned. We have organized petition drives, had articles published in all the major newspapers in South Florida, and written countless letters to legislators and other government officials. In addition, SAFER does a monthly mailing to all the bass clubs in the tri-county area, keeping them abreast of developments, and of our efforts to prevent the backfilling of the canals. Over and over, we stress to them that this is a long-term battle, and it will only be won with the involvement of all recreational fishermen. Of equal importance, is our presence at the public meetings, and our continued participation in the Restoration process. SAFER is considered a stakeholder organization by the Corps’ Restoration staff. They are definitely aware of who we are, and what we stand for. More importantly, they know we are committed for the long haul

.Anglers and other parties interested in recreational access to the Everglades can contact S.A.F.E.R. through :

 Al Ovies          (H) 786-268-7770     (C) 786-325-2934   

alovies@comcast.com

Rick Persson   (H) 305-279-0871                                                          ) RPBR1117@aol.com

 Participating fishing clubs are encouraged to provide a $50 voluntary contribution to support the organization.