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I am writing this letter on behalf of Happy Hooker Sportfishing &
Pacific Dream Sportfishing.  I have been welcomed into this fishing
family for the last four years and have seen firsthand how devoted
the Smith family is to the fishing industry. These guys proudly
represent 3 generations of charter boat captains with the Happy
Hooker being in their family for over 40 years. It really is their
way of life as they have been raised on this boat. We hope to raise
our children into this business as well so they can continue the
family tradition of sportfishing captains. This industry has taught
great work ethic, survival skills and how to be devoted to
something you love. I also answer the business phones and handle
reservations. I have witnessed not only our crew's devotion but our
customers as well. We have multiple generations that have fished
with us for years to provide food for their families and a
wonderful bonding experience. It brings me joy to talk with
customers that have been with us throughout the years and share
their excitement when they bring out their children and friends to
fish together. 
We also believe in reducing emissions. The captains have spent many
hours discussing options and applying for grants to reduce
emissions.  We will be repowering the engines on both boats within
the next year to reduce emissions. Protecting the environment will
give us the ability to continue providing families with a way to
bring home fish home to their families as well as continuing with a
business we are proud of. 
The timing for this new engine proposal has come at a very
difficult time for us. We lost part of our season in 2020 due to
Covid-19 and are still running with reduced capacity on our boats.
The engines that would be needed for this proposal would not allow
our current vessels to be retrofitted. Under the new proposal out
of 174 passenger vessels only 1 will be able to retrofit to meet
the new engine requirements.   This we mean we would need to
purchase multimillion dollar boats before 2034 in order to stay in
operation.  This will be very difficult to achieve, banks will not
approve loans for new vessels if our current vessels are deemed
non-compliant with little to no resale value. Imagine spending the
last 50+ years building a company and investing in your dreams just
to have that taken away without any consideration of how that
affects everyone.
We provide charters to Boy Scouts, Veterans, and donate to
nonprofit organizations.  We believe fishing should be accessible
and encouraged to the public. I have had clients tell me that the
service we provide has given them direction in life and helped them
find their passion. We hope to be able to continue to give them
this opportunity. Some of our clients have even gone on to find
jobs in the industry for themselves and their children.  We have
teenagers that have grown up fishing with us and volunteer to come
out and learn the ways to help people on the deck catch more fish.
Technology has such a grip on our youth it has been great to see
their eyes light up at the opportunity to be out on the open water
helping others and doing what they love.
Historically speaking the CARB board has regulated commercial boats
to uphold the same standards to carb emissions as passenger
vessels. The double standard of passenger vessels being regulated
without holding commercial vessels to the same requirements is
discouraging. If this is being done for environmental purposes how
can almost identical vessels be held to a certain standard, without
the other being held to the same standard. We believe that
passenger boat should be put in the same category as commercial
fishing boats so we can continue to transition to lower emission
engines as it is economically feasible, and technology becomes
available. 
If we are not allowed to remain in operation with our current
vessels it will devastate our family business. Our children may not
be able to learn of the legacy my boyfriends grandfather created. 
Also, the many generations that have fished with us over the years
will only be able be able to tell stories instead of sharing the
experience with their family/friends. We really hope that CARB will
consider a safer and more practical approach to dealing with carb
emissions. We are fully in support of protecting our environment
and hope to come to a compromise that will allow us to stay in
business. 
Thank you for listening
Jessica Karraker