Advocacy

NOAA Fisheries is currently taking comments on a proposal from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council that would allow an increase in the amount of commercial shrimp trawl fishing effort in the northern Gulf of Mexico. If fully implemented, Shrimp Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico would allow commercial shrimpers to trawl an additional 5,800 24-hour days in the northern Gulf, a relative increase in Gulf-wide effort of 21 percent.

This action will also dramatically increase the amount of bycatch killed in shrimp trawls, including Atlantic croaker, seatrout and juvenile red snapper. 
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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is proposing changes to fishing regulations for several fisheries including alligator gar, cobia, oysters, sharks and spotted seatrout. Below is a brief summary of each proposal.

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CCA Texas recently offered comments regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Draft Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study – Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The conservation of and access to healthy fisheries in Galveston Bay is a concern of CCA Texas. There is an overwhelming lack of analysis and detail in the Study regarding specific environmental impacts, particularly with respect to impacts of a gate system across Bolivar Roads. Without an understanding of these impacts, we cannot support the tentatively selected plan.  Click the link below to read our full statement.

CCA Texas Comments DIFR-EIS2019

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On January 23, 2019, the TPWD Commission authorized the state to publish in the Texas Register an amendment that eliminates the current bag limit differential for speckled trout and implements a universal five-fish bag in all state waters. Continue Reading