As expected, Tom Raftican resigned yesterday as president of the United Anglers of Southern California.
Raftican was replaced on an interim basis by Dave Elm, board chairman for UASC.
“The Board of Directors on behalf of California anglers thank Tom for all his hard work on sportfishing issues during his tenure as president of United Anglers of Southern California,” Elm said in a statement. “Tom's work and achievements during his 12 years as president of UASC included the elimination of pelagic longlines from California state waters, spearheading the Bolsa Chica and Bird Island artificial reefs, efforts to remove destructive bottom trawls from California state waters and helping to plant more than a million juvenile white seabass in Southern California ocean waters.”
Raftican had no comment.
The UASC plans to fill the position as soon as possible. UASC, a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization, claims to have 40,000 members. It's believed the group has fewer than 6,000 dues-paying members. The other 35,000 UASC claims as members belong to other fishing conservation affiliates.
Elm is an avid Southern California angler with many years in the sportfishing industry. He currently serves as production manager for Irvine-based Aftco Manufacturing, Inc.
The UASC board of directors agreed at its meeting Monday to continue working to unite the sportfishing community in Southern California as it prepares to engage environmentalists and protectionists who advocate massive closures of fishing grounds.
A press release from UASC said Raftican “graciously resigned” to preserve unity among anglers. Raftican had no choice, sources close to the situation said.
Raftican had alienated fishing groups by appearing to become too cozy with the environmentalists and protectionists who oppose fishing and want certain ocean waters closed to recreational and commercial fishing.
Raftican's actions caused UASC to be booted from the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans. His recent columns in a sportfishing magazine, where he criticized the commercial sportfishing industry, forced the UASC board of directors to consider a change in leadership.
In addition to philosophical differences with Raftican, UASC insiders began questioning some of Raftican's financial dealings, including the use of grant money and the gathering of soft funds through raffles, auctions and various fund-raisers.
Ed Zieralski: (619) 293-1225; ed.zieralski@uniontrib.com
