The announcement was made by Dave Elm, chairman of the board of 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," said Elm. "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."

With Raftican's departure, the UASC Board of Directors is interviewing candidates to serve as president and help lead the 40,000-member organization as it continues its work on behalf of California anglers. This includes protecting access for recreational fishing, supporting white seabass restoration, removing destructive commercial fishing gear from California ocean waters, improving habitat through Rigs to Reefs and other programs, and working with youngsters to help create a new generation of anglers.

Elm will serve as interim UASC president while the Board of Directors undertakes its candidate review. Elm, an avid Southern California angler, has worked in the sportfishing industry for many years and is currently production manager for Irvine-based Aftco Manufacturing, Inc.

The Board of Directors of UASC is also committed to uniting the sportfishing community to create the best possible outcome for recreational fishing in the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) implementation process and other fishery resource issues.

United Anglers of Southern California is a volunteer driven, non-profit organization dedicated to the enhancement of fishery resources through management, conservation and education in order to pass the sport of fishing onto future generations.