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Another group has gone on record as being against catch shares.
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The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), a national non-profit conservation organization representing the concerns of saltwater anglers, issued a notice to its membership last week in support of the Jones Amendment.
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The text reads as follows:
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"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."
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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contained an eye-popping $54 million for catch share programs at a time when fishery after fishery is closing based on outdated science and suspect recreational harvest data.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.
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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".
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Based in Texas, the objective of CCA is to advise, educate, conserve, promote and enhance the present and future availability of coastal resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public. The organization has members in 17 coastal state chapters spanning the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Pacific coasts. They have about 206 chapters and more than 100,000 members.
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