Coastal Conservation Association

C

Capt. Jim

New member
Today I received a newsletter from the Coastal Conservation Association in which they announced that the orginization will expand its operations to the U. S. Pacific Northwest to address a variety of conservation issues, including problems with the salmon fishery.
For thirty years this group has been instrumental in the recovery of sportfisheries stocks along the Gulf Coast.
I ask that all fellow C-Brats in the Northwest look into this organization and lend it your support.
Thanks,
 
Tuesday night Gary Loomis (of G. Loomis fishing rods) spoke to us at the Fidalgo chapter of Puget Sound Anglers. We thought the presentation was going to be about Loomis' Fish First organization, and it was - to start with. But he eventually revealed that he is no longer promoting membership in Fish First but rather is throwing his energies and prestige behind getting CCA going in the PNW.

I was so impressed by Loomis' arguments that I intend to become a Life Member. Needless to say, I fully applaud Capt. Jim's sentiments.

Warren
 
Generally the recreationalf fishermen support CCA in the Pensacola area. They seem to be the only group who the recreational anglers--but unfortunately the stocks of snapper and grouper are still severely depleated. I would not look for any miracles--because there is such a strong commercial lobby. Hopefully they will be of some help with the fisheries. All of our US Fisheries have declined.
 
Some of the things the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) has helped bring about in the Gulf Coast states include a ban on gill nets, gamefish status for redfish and trout and removal of thousands of abandoned crab traps.
 
We have chosen to continue our support for NSIA, rather than spreading the money to a gulf-based organization that isn't quite as close to the issues...do some research...big paychecks those guys at CCA are pulling down.
 
CatyMae n Steve":3gy266ed said:
We have chosen to continue our support for NSIA, rather than spreading the money to a gulf-based organization that isn't quite as close to the issues...do some research...big paychecks those guys at CCA are pulling down.
Click to expand...

Nothing I'd like to do more than to research how CCA compares to NSIA -- but when I googled NSIA I got nothing relevant. Please provide a URL.

Then I can see how successful each organization is in converting donations to wins. Gary Loomis feels no other group comes close. I'd like to find out how much truth there is in that claim. Maybe the big paychecks are resulting in big returns. Maybe not.

Warren
 
Happy to provide the link:

http://www.nsiafishing.org/

Liz and the crew there will be happy to answer any questions you may have. And if you attend any of the ODFW or WDFW public meetings, they will probably be represented and participating.

I was approached about the CCA organization and the thing that got my goat was they won't show in the PNW unless they get a certain amount of money :crook -- that's what made me do the research on them.
 
Thanks for the NSIA link. I took a quick look at it and got the impression that they were focused on consensus and compromise, whereas CCA is more into litigating for sportfishing rights. One of the points that Gary Loomis made at the presentation that I attended was that because of the power that Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has in protecting commercial fishing interests (who, of course, support him) lobbying is unlikely to be as effective as litigation. From what I can see, CCA has more experience and more success in litigation.

As for your complaint that CCA won't show in the PNW until they get a certain amount of money, that makes perfect sense to me. I'm no expert on military matters but I recall that the Powell Doctrine (which was not followed in Iraq) holds that you don't commit your forces until you have overwhelming superiority.

Loomis had some impressive statistics to show that the primary problem with salmon fishing in the PNW is not dams or water quality or other environmental factors (although they are important) but rather overfishing by commercial fleets in the ocean before the salmon get to us. That means war with the commercial fishing industry, which means getting the big guns involved. To me, that means CCA.

This is just how I look at it. I'm sure NSIA does good work. I may join them also. I just feel that CCA has a track record that is worth the investment to get them involved here in the PNW.

Warren
 
All of those factors affect the sportfishers -- one is no more important than the other, IMHO -- man has messed with nature once again and money makers are thumbing their noses at nature's way of saying get a grip before it's too late -- whatever support or ACTION you choose is better than sitting in your chair and saying "let someone else do it."
 
Seems like we have discussion going here. Its good that so many are interested. Perhaps our East Coast C-Brats would like to comment on the CCA or other conservation activities that have been successful in their area.
There are C-Brats on the East Coast, right?
 
Sounds like we've got guys* at the arm-wrestling table going at it over whether the commercial or sportfishing guys get the salmon. Who's going to represent the salmon and make sure they're not wrestling over who gets the last one?

(Sorry for the exaggerated viewpoint, but done to make the point.)

* refers to the interest groups, not to our C-Brat members with different viewpoints!

Joe.
 
This is a touchy subject, with a number of different viewpoints, like anything else.

I edited the post above to make sure our C-Brat friends didn't think I was picking on anybody.

But what concerns me is that everybody knows they have to be in favor of conservation/enviornmentalism to be PC, but it seems they want to be sure they get their share of the dwindling remaining resources before they're gone.

It's kinda like "Conservation for all, full limits for me!"

I'm certainly no "environ-nazi", but I am concerned about how the beautiful living creatures of the Earth are fairing under so much human pressure.

It's the irony of the "Conservation for all, limits for me!" scares me a lot, because it blindly puts the burden on "them" and leaves "me" free to grab it while I can!

Somehow, individuals must come to the realization they can't have it all forever for themselves.

Joe.
 
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