No need to count votes in this election.
No challengers emerged to run against the five incumbents April 9 at the annual Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage board election.
All board members — Kim McVey, Jane von Hahmann, Kaye Bell, Plum Taylor and Janet Miller — won three-year terms by acclaim.
Following the election, the four incumbent FISH officers were returned to their posts.
McVey remains president, von Hahmann, vice president; Mike Northfield, treasurer; and Karen Bell, recording secretary.
Board members all say they will work to spark the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, where attendance slumped an estimated 23.5 percent from 17,000 in 2017 to 13,000 this year, despite great weather.
“We had a lot of things working against us,” said festival chair Rose Lipke. “Expenses have gone up a lot, plus there was a lot of entertainment competition.”
Festival revenues might come to $40,000 once all expenses are paid, Northfield reported, compared with $88,000 in 2017 and $128,000 in 2016.
Northfield said FISH finances are sound despite the setback.
“We remain financially very stable,” he said.
McVey reported two major grants from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will bolster FISH coffers this year.
The FWC granted FISH $100,000 from the marine estuarine habitat restoration-monitoring assessment to continue preserve restoration work and $16,000 for exotic plant removal.
The nonprofit’s liquid assets totaled $143,957 as of April 9, a decrease of $12,023, or 7.7 percent, compared with $155,980 in April 2017, Northfield reported.
Long-term liabilities were reduced $26,828, or 8.3 percent, from $323,434 to 296,606.
Total FISH assets were valued by Northfield at $1.235 million compared with $1.247 million a year ago.
Northfield said the FISH policy of not projecting festival revenues as part of the nonprofit’s operating fund proved wise this year.
McVey agreed.
“We’re fortunate because we’ve been adding to reserves for years and years,” McVey said.
Founded in 1991, FISH supports a 95-acre preserve and boat-building and repair programs. FISH works against land developments viewed as detrimental to the commercial fishing way of life.
FISH will next meet at 7 p.m. Monday, May 7, at Fishermen’s Hall, 4511 124th St. W.