WASHINGTON – The Coastal Conservation Association sent the following "Call to Action" to its members urging support for the Jones Amendment in the Senate. Text of the Alert:
Coastal Conservation Association is encouraging the U.S. Senate to slam the door shut on funding any more controversial catch share management schemes in the Gulf of Mexico or on the East Coast.
The 2011 budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contained an eye-popping $54 million for catch share programs at a time when fishery after fishery is closing based on outdated science and suspect recreational harvest data. An amendment filed by Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC) that would keep any funds earmarked in NOAA's budget from being used on catch share programs in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic and New England areas passed the House in late February and now awaits consideration by the Senate.
CCA believes there are far better things on which NOAA should be focusing its scarce resources than catch shares. Higher, better priorities include more frequent stock assessments, development of fishery independent data and improved recreational catch data for federal fisheries. Given the cascading and substantial impacts of fisheries restrictions and closures currently underway in a number of key recreational fisheries, the proper management of the recreational sector should be a priority for the Congress and for NOAA Fisheries – not catch shares.
Click the link below to send a message to your Senators.
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/coastal/RQEz2tBi.aspx
The following is a description of the Coastal Conservation Association taken from the organization's website:
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), a non-profit organization, comprises 17 coastal
state chapters spanning the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Pacific coasts. CCA's strength is drawn from the tens of thousands of recreational saltwater anglers who make up its membership. From South Texas to the upper reaches of Maine to Puget Sound, CCA's grassroots influence is felt through state capitols, U.S. Congress and, most importantly, in the conservation and restoration of our coastal marine resources.
CCA has been active in virtually every national fisheries debate since 1984 and has participated productively in state and federal fisheries management issues for longer than three decades. CCA continues to operate as a three-tiered organization, affecting issues on the local, state and national levels.
For more about CCA, visit their website:
http://www.joincca.org/CCA%20Story.html