News
Release
Coastal
Conservation Association
6919
Portwest, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77024
Email:
info@ccanc.org
Website: www.ccanc.org
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 24, 2007
CONTACT: Ted Venker, 1-800-201-FISH
Coastal Conservation Association wins IGFA Conservation
Award
The
International Game Fish Association has named Coastal
Conservation Association as a recipient of its prestigious
Conservation Award, established to honor organizations that
have made significant and outstanding contributions to the
cause of conservation in the freshwater, saltwater and fly
fishing communities.
“In
South Carolina, given the legislative manner in which we
manage our marine resources, the contribution of time and
energy that CCA volunteers and members provide is the
cornerstone of the state chapter’s ability to positively
impact fisheries management” said South Carolina Executive
Director, Scott Whitaker. "Enacting meaningful
conservation measures can often be a long, difficult process.
This award is welcome confirmation that the time and
energy our members do give to that effort does pay
off in the end.”
CCA
was founded in 1977 by a handful of anglers in Texas
frustrated at the demise of once-robust redfish populations at
the hands of commercial netters. CCA’s spirit of
conservation and stewardship started with the "Save the
Redfish" campaign and soon swept across the entire Gulf
Coast. By 1985, Gulf-state chapters had formed from Texas to
Florida. The South Carolina Chapter was founded in 1986 and
was the first CCA chapter on the East Coast. By decade’s
end, state chapters were founded through the mid-Atlantic
region, and by the early ‘90s, development of the New
England state chapters was completed to address state,
national and international issues as a united Coastal
Conservation Association.
“This
award is for the tens of thousands of CCA volunteers who have
worked so hard over the last 30 years to advance the cause of
proper marine resource conservation,” said David Cummins,
CCA president. “All of them contribute their time, money and
expertise because they see a need and have the ability to fill
it. That sort of work is its own reward, but it is also
gratifying when a group like IGFA recognizes those
achievements.”
Among
other notable achievements in its history, CCA volunteers have
helped establish game fish status for billfish and redfish,
enacted net bans in four states, and outlawed many destructive
gear types. CCA is also recognized by fisheries managers as
instrumental in the recovery of redfish, king mackerel,
Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, striped bass, Gulf grouper,
and Atlantic weakfish.
“Everything
CCA has been able to achieve over the past 30 years is due to
its grassroots organization of dedicated volunteers,” said
Pat Murray, CCA Vice President and Director of Conservation.
“All of our members are all drawn by the same desire to make
a positive difference and they never let an occasional setback
keep them down. It is their creativity, commitment and
perseverance that have allowed CCA to become a force for
marine resource conservation.”
The IGFA Conservation Award will be presented at IGFA’s 23rd
International Auction and Banquet in Palm Beach, Florida, on
Friday, Jan. 26.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 2007 CONTACT:
Scott Whitaker, 1-803-865-4164
Swordfish
recovery a victory in the making
HOUSTON, TX
– As proper conservation measures succeed in rebuilding
swordfish stocks in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic,
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) is calling for a series
of additional steps to ensure that the future of this
important species is secure – and that a renewed,
exciting recreational fishery is assured.
“As more and more recreational anglers realize the availability
of these fish and the incredible angling experience they
provide, we expect to see more attention drawn to the
stock,” said Fred Miller, chairman of CCA’s National
Government Relations Committee. “The commercial industry is
certain to take a greater interest as swordfish numbers
increase. This is a case where conservation has succeeded
rather spectacularly, and now it is time to implement
additional management measures to ensure the recovery stays on
track.”
CCA is currently
calling on the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to
maintain bycatch reduction measures achieved by closing key
areas to longlining. Commercial longliners have recently
pressured NMFS to open the closed areas in response to
difficult economic conditions in their industry. CCA is asking
NMFS to refuse to sacrifice the conservation gains made in the
closed areas for such narrow economic interests.
“The
Charleston Bump area off the South Carolina coast has long
been a favorite destination for commercial longliners
targeting, among other species, swordfish” said CCA South
Carolina Government Relations Chairman, Mike Able. “The
closed season that is in place on that area has proven to be a
vital management measure in the recovery of the species and
undermining the closures would be ignoring their significant
contribution to the recovery process.”
Additionally, CCA is
calling on all
recreational
anglers to report their catches of swordfish to the National
Marine Fisheries Service in an effort to build a case for a
fair allocation in future management of this species.
Swordfish is one of numerous species managed by the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas (ICCAT). If domestic swordfish catches go unreported and
the United States fails to meet its swordfish quota, it is
likely that ICCAT will divert that unused quota to developing
nations, resulting in fewer swordfish allotted to American
fishers in the future.
Finally, CCA is requesting that NMFS liberalize regulations to
permit the commercial industry to target swordfish with more
selective fishing gear that would allow commercial fishers to
optimize their take of swordfish while greatly reducing the
destructive bycatch of marlins, sailfish, dolphin, wahoo,
sharks and other pelagic species that always
accompanies longline operations.
“It has been said that it is far easier to manage a decimated
fishery that a recovering one,” said Pat Murray, CCA Vice
President and Director of Conservation. “The recovery of
swordfish is at a critical point. With the continued
application of sensible conservation measures, we can
guarantee a healthy population of swordfish that can be
enjoyed by anglers for generations.”
CCA
is the largest marine resource conservation group of its kind
in the nation. With more than 90,000 members in 15 state
chapters, CCA has been active in state, national and
international fisheries management issues since 1977. Visit www.JoinCCA.org
for more information.
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