A few CCA Projects

[chicapesca]

CCA's Commitment to Marine Habitat

The Building Conservation Program was created to provide funding for local, state and national marine fisheries and habitat conservation and restoration projects. Program funds are directed to CCA state chapters for grassroots-driven projects achieving one or more of five key objectives:
- Restore degraded habitats
-- Create new habitats
-- Advance the science of coastal habitat restoration and marine fisheries conservation
-- Foster habitat stewardship
- Educate coastal communities of the value of conservation

Building Conservation Program funds are combined with local CCA chapter network volunteer efforts to identify and organize conservation projects, engaging local communities to work together for marine conservation.

CCA Washington: Fish Flinging
During mid-December members of the Southwest Washington Chapter, working with the Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, participated in a series of nutrient enhancement events on the Washougal River. On Dec. 15, 23 volunteers from CCA Washington met at the Washougal River Salmon Hatchery to help spawn Coho salmon. On that date, more than 500 wild fish were passed above the hatchery to continue their upstream spawning migration, 300 pairs of Coho were spawned (offspring will be raised at the Washougal Hatchery) and 1,100 fish were held aside to be placed back into the watershed.
After their spawning cycle is complete, salmon naturally die and the nutrients from their flesh are a critical element to the survival of their offspring, not to mention a myriad of other plants, fish and wildlife. So on Dec. 19, more than 20 CCA Washington volunteers returned to the Washougal River, loaded up several hundred salmon carcasses and distributed them back into the Washougal River. Not only was it a fun couple of days but the chapter made positive steps in rebuilding our resource.
The chapter will be doing a follow-up event in early spring where thousands of frozen carcasses will be passed through a wood chipper to go back into the river.

CCA Texas: Nueces Bay project
CCA Texas’ Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) is donating $10,000 and joining hands with the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP) and the Fish America Foundation (FAF) to help restore 150 acres of marsh that has been lost to various factors along Nueces Bay’s Portland Causeway.
“This project is vital to restoring this once dynamic area,” said HTFT Director John Blaha. “With a little help, this area will become prime habitat for many species including crabs, shrimp and bait fish. Once this occurs, gamefish will follow and the circle of life will be restored.”
CCA Texas’ HTFT Program, a major habitat restoration program that was initiated in 2008, has already dedicated tens of thousands of dollars for various projects including reef creation and marsh restoration initiatives along Texas’ near-shore waters. The projects are funded through CCA Texas fundraising efforts as well as with outside support from individuals, corporations and foundations.
“CCA Texas has placed a major emphasis on habitat projects and this project, much like the Goose Island project in Aransas Bay and the Sportsman Road project in Galveston Bay, are a major step forward in restoring and conserving vital habitat areas for the future,” stated Robby Byers, CCA Texas executive director. “The more habitat areas we can restore today means more habitat, more fish, and better angling opportunities for the future. CCA Texas is able to continue this important work thanks to the dedication of our 50,000 members who understand the importance of giving today for a brighter future tomorrow. CCA Texas is proud to be a partner with CBBEP and FAF in this important project.”



CCA South Carolina: Topwater Action Campaign on Tap for Summer
CCA SC‘s habitat program has been in full swing throughout the winter season collecting oysters for recycling. The results of those winter efforts will soon be put to use with the beginning of the summer oyster reef restoration efforts. Last year, CCA SC volunteers and members participated in the construction of four oyster reefs up and down the coast of South Carolina. This year’s efforts will be more ambitious. “Watching this program develop and grow has been extremely exciting for CCA SC,” said Scott Whitaker, CCA SC executive director. “To have the volunteers come together and focus on habitat improvement and to see the support that continues to build from local communities and businesses for this effort is overwhelming.”

CCA SC is currently scheduling activities with the state Department of Natural Resources S.C.O.R.E. program revolving around bagging and preparing the oysters for distribution along the coast. Actual oyster reef projects will scheduled soon afterward. Visit the CCA SC website for dates, times, and locations of coming events.

CCA North Carolina: Oyster recycling efforts continue
Raleigh-area residents will soon have 12 new places to deposit their used oyster shells and help the environment at the same time. The drop-off centers will be the most recent additions to a growing number of spots in North Carolina where the public can help reduce the landfill waste and restore oyster reefs by recycling oyster shells. Oyster shells collected through the program are placed back in North Carolina coastal waters to provide a place for baby oysters to attach and grow. For years, the state has used oyster shells in oyster rehabilitation programs, primarily purchasing the shells from oyster shucking operations. However, as demand for oyster shells has increased, so has the cost. The Oyster Shell Recycling Program started in the fall of 2003 to establish public places where people could donate their shells. The program has grown from collecting 711 bushels of oyster shells in 2003 to more than 32,000 bushels in 2007. More than 86,700 bushels have been collected since the program’s inception. CCA North Carolina’s Jim Hardin and Chris Elkins have been on the forefront of the Oyster Shell Recycling Program and each continues to volunteer his time picking up oyster shells at various sites across the state. CCA NC has also purchased a trailer in which Pitt County restaurants use to haul the oyster shells to each site.

CCA Louisiana: I-10 Twin Spans Reef Project
The I-10 Twin Span Reef Project, in Lake Ponchartrain is underway, with Boh Bros Construction Company dropping the first pieces in early February. This massive artificial reef project will be the first project of its kind in Louisiana where #57 limestone has previously been required for use for reefs. The limestone is a great reef material, but it is expensive and has to be shipped in. The ability to use debris material from the I-10 bridge that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina will be an incredible step for Louisiana, and will hopefully open the door for many more projects like it across our coast. John Walther, the artificial reef coordinator with CCA Louisiana's Habitat and Conservation Committee, and many other volunteers, anglers and conservationists have been instrumental in bringing the project along from concept to reality.
This is habitat building at its best. Click HERE for an article that appeared in TIDE magazine recently about the project and stay tuned for more news as this incredible project moves towards completion.

[Loco Pato]

Awesome..Great to see CCA putting their money where their mouth is by doing very important work in important conservation work. The Thousands in donations I make every year to CCA seem to really make a differance! Great post Thanks!

[Louis Rossignol]

Right,,,,,,

after we check out that Tree Hugger message from CCA, we can rest assured their only intention is to push Catch Shares on the Recreational Fisherman to be sold to the Highest Bidders, as quoted by CCA. Same goal as the Pew Charitable Trust and the other EDF Barger-ites.

Isn't CCA the organization that signed on to the "Fishing should be for the Experience Only, Catch and Release". I don't know about the rest of yall, but after a day of fishing, I at least want to be able to eat dinner. It's my Heritage.

I agree to disagree.

[happyhookercharters]

Originally Posted by Louis Rossignol

Right,,,,,,

after we check out that Tree Hugger message from CCA, we can rest assured their only intention is to push Catch Shares on the Recreational Fisherman to be sold to the Highest Bidders, as quoted by CCA. Same goal as the Pew Charitable Trust and the other EDF Barger-ites.

Isn't CCA the organization that signed on to the "Fishing should be for the Experience Only, Catch and Release". I don't know about the rest of yall, but after a day of fishing, I at least want to be able to eat dinner. It's my Heritage.

I agree to disagree.

AMEN!!! I wish more people would read the fine print around CCA's agenda. We should also never forget how they flipflopped when the feds reduced the snapper limits in the Gulf! Take your CCA $$'s and direct them to an organization more interested in your god given right to pursue & eat a resource.

[chicapesca]

Originally Posted by Loco Pato

Awesome..Great to see CCA putting their money where their mouth is by doing very important work in important conservation work. The Thousands in donations I make every year to CCA seem to really make a differance! Great post Thanks!

Thank you Scott!

If anyone is interested in what is really going on in CCA, you can check it out here, in our Newsroom (Welcome to the CCA Newsroom, the place to find out the latest information on federal fishery management issues in the Gulf of Mexico, along the East Coast, in the South Atlantic, and in the Pacific Northwest.
In these pages you will find CCA press releases, position statements and testimony on the conservation challenges facing important recreational marine species. You will meet the CCA advocacy team with responsibility for each region and, most importantly, you will have the opportunity to comment and ask questions about marine conservation and management issues that are becoming more complex by the day.
Simply click on a region or issue to find out the latest developments that are impacting your recreational angling and the marine resources in your area.):

http://www.joincca.org/media%20room/media%20intro.html

[oldtrackster]

More beads for the natives.

[Muddskipper]

I'm still amazed, CCA does all this good, locally here in Texas and other states, and they still get bashed on a single issue.

If you step back from the situtation, it's a red snapper that is causing all this HATE.

We deffeinitly have some passonite fisherman here on 2cool, and most are real good people.

BUT
When we write some of the post we do, like ripping organization like CCA on a thread like this, it really turns poeple off to this web-site. You would not believe the people I speak to, that are scared to post here. Some think this web-site has become a joke, and it's because of a few select posters that take things to far.

chicapesca posted some good info, on some good things that cca has done.

Why can't we leave it at that?

[Levelwind]

Originally Posted by Muddskipper

I'm still amazed, CCA does all this good, locally here in Texas and other states, and they still get bashed on a single issue.

If you step back from the situtation, it's a red snapper that is causing all this HATE.

Don't be amazed, Muddskipper. This is part of the BLUEWATER forums. We make up a very small percentage of 2coolers. Instead of being so amazed, try to visualize what would happen if the "single issue" were throwing the speckled trout fishermen under the bus. Think that wouldn't cause some hate?

Bet it makes more sense now.

Regardless, thanks Liz for posting. Unlike Scott, I'll never forgive CCA for what they did to red snapper fishermen until they fire the people involved in the obvious dishonesty of using the known inflated bycatch number in the lawsuit that landed us in this situation, and make a public apology.

On the other hand, I won't ignore their achievements, or the good things they do, either. They're a big, powerful organization with the capacity to do a lot of good. PERHAPS they've learned that offshore fishermen count too. We'll see.

If you CCA folks want to see the hate die down, demand the resignation (or termination) of the individuals responsible for the lawsuit, and have the organization publicly apologize, in print, and acknowledge that they knew what they were doing was wrong when they did it.

It's an absolute fact that if they did that to the trout fishermen of the region you guys would be the ones carrying the pitchforks and torches. In fact, CCA would have fired some people and apologized some time ago.

[SolarScreenGuy]

Are you on the payroll? Or are you just a cheerleader? Either way, you are wasting cyberspace. Your members are already "all in" and the rest of us have already "seen the light". Still pluggin'-Old Salty

[Im Headed South]

Hey Salty

How that love affair with your new buddy coming along? Still have yet see that lawsuit that is suppose to make the sand fly! How long is the honeymoon going to last? Any time you want to pimp what they do in our back yard post it. When are you going to get out from behind your computer and put your back into helping out? Crab trap clean up is going on or how about the PINS clean up next month? Didn't happen to catch you at the grass planting project at Goose Island last year either! How about you doing something about being part of the solution instead of running your mouth about the folks that do. I said last time I wasn't going to get sucked into these ******* match's anymore but then again I also remember the head honcho on here saying that the negative bashing was going to end as well when something like this was posted. Muddskipper is right on IMO.

Mike