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Who are the Hammond Bay
Anglers?
The Hammond Bay Area Anglers Association
was organized in the early 1980’s because of the increasing
tribal gill net fishing in Hammond Bay and Northern Lake
Huron. The charter members of HBAAA were concerned that
this fishing effort could lead to the loss of a valuable
economic and recreational resource for Presque Isle,
Cheboygan and Alpena Counties, as well as the State of
Michigan.
From shortly after the Fox Court ruling
declaring that the Lake Huron waters were not settled,
through the negotiations leading to the signing of the 2000
Consent Agreement, HBAAA members have been representing the
interests of recreational sport fishing in Northeast
Michigan. HBAAA has raised over $100,000 to protect the
rights of all fishermen to have the opportunity to enjoy
safe and productive days of fishing on Northern Lake Huron.
During the negotiations leading to the
signing of the 2000 Consent Agreement, HBAAA served as a
conscience to MUCC and the State of Michigan. We firmly
believe that had we not been there, the Tribes would have
been given a gill net fishery in the waters of Lake Huron
from the Mackinaw Bridge to Alpena in exchange for a net
free Lake Michigan.
HBAAA was a charter member of the
Michigan Fisheries Resource Conservation Coalition
which formed as the Great Lakes negotiations were
beginning. From the original 2 members, the Coalition has
grown to the 10 member Coalition to Protect
Michigan Resources with the goal of protecting the
resources of our great state for all of its residents. The
Coalition Members were present and participating as the
State and Tribes negotiated the inland hunting and fishing
agreement. HBAAA is committed to the Coalition as long as
is necessary to assure the protection of the natural
resources of the State of Michigan and the rights of all
user groups to share them. |
