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Gulf Senators file Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Conservation Act of 2013

WASHINGTON DC (6-13-2013) – Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) filed legislation today that seeks to transfer responsibility for the management of Gulf red snapper to the Gulf states. The legislation (S.1161)comes two months after the governors of four Gulf states released a joint letter to the leadership of the U.S. House and Senate stating that federal management of Gulf red snapper is “irretrievably broken,” and calling for a coordinated Gulf states partnership for red snapper management.

“The red snapper fishery is tremendously complicated and has lurched from crisis to crisis under federal management with no end in sight,” said Chester Brewer, chairman of the National Government Relations Committee for Coastal Conservation Association. “We commend Sen. Landrieu for taking the lead to work through the complexity of this issue. She invested a great deal of time to craft a balanced, workable solution that allows the Gulf States to develop a new management approach.”

Federal management of red snapper reached a new low in 2013 when the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council announced the shortest season ever, even though the snapper population is booming. In response, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi announced various actions to join Texas’ long-standing rejection of federal regulations in state waters, prompting federal authorities to implement punitive measures for those states. Using an emergency rule process, the National Marine Fisheries Service reduced the recreational season to nine days off Louisiana and 12 days off Texas. Both states sued and a federal court overturned the action. The recreational season is now set at 28 days Gulf-wide.

“The reality is that federal fisheries management has a credibility problem. Red snapper has been under federal management for decades and our season this year is 28 days. No one should be satisfied with these results,” said Brewer. “We are grateful that Sen. Landrieu, Sen. Wicker and the Gulf governors heard the concerns of their citizens and pledged to find a better way.”

The Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Conservation Act (S.1161) would establish a coordinated Gulf states partnership for red snapper management in which the states would fully comply with a management plan approved and adopted by the Gulf States Marines Fisheries Commission with minimal oversight from the federal government. The partnership would be similar to how striped bass are managed on the East Coast through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

“State-based fishery management has proven to be far more effective, and has engineered some of the greatest marine conservation victories in the country,” said Brewer. “We have faith in the states to be philosophically capable of not only conserving and managing robust fisheries, but also providing greater access to those resources for their citizens.”

Superstars highlight 2^nd Annual CCA Texas Concert for Conservation

Dwight Yoakam, Robert Earl Keen headline May 18 event

HOUSTON (March 7, 2013) — Tickets are on sale now for the second annual Concert for Conservation scheduled for Saturday, May 18, at Sam Houston Race Park. This year, Coastal Conservation Association Texas (CCA Texas) has partnered with Sam Houston Race Park to put together a superstar lineup that will offer fans a wide variety of country music from featured artists Dwight Yoakam, Robert Earl Keen, Hayes Carll and Ray Willie Hubbard. Continue Reading

Effort to open up Cedar Bayou gets $200,000 boost

Texas Coastal Management Program awards grant to re-open natural pass

AUSTIN — Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson today announced a $200,000 grant to help re-open Cedar Bayou, a natural pass between the Gulf of Mexico and the Aransas Bay complex.

“This is good news for the whooping cranes, as well as everything else that depends on a healthy bay system,” Patterson said. “Everything alive in the Aransas and Mesquite bay systems will benefit once this pass opens and the natural dynamics are restored.”

The $200,000 grant awarded today is in addition to the $518,000 the General Land Office previously awarded for work to reopen Cedar Bayou.

The project will straighten Cedar Bayou and connect it with a channel from Vinson Slough near the beach of San Jose Island. Dredge sand from the channel will be placed in a semi-circle offshore to bolster a natural delta and to diffuse waves that tend to plug the mouth with sand.  This will re-establish the hydraulic connection between the Gulf of Mexico and the Aransas/Mesquite bay system and re-establish the life-cycle migration route for a variety of marine species, as well as enhance tidal flow to thousands of acres of tidal wetlands adjacent to Cedar Bayou and Vinson Slough.

The Cedar Bayou grant application was evaluated by representatives from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Water Development Board, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, the Texas Sea Grant College Program and the Texas General Land Office.  The General Land Office granted final approval of the project as part of this year’s Coastal Management Program grant cycle.

CCA Texas Makes Historic Contribution to Marine Science
CCA and Harte Research Institute Partner to Create Sportfishing Science Center

Houston, Texas – Coastal Conservation Association Texas recently pledged $500,000 toward the creation of a Sportfishing Research Center within the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Continue Reading

On Saturday, October 13, 2012, after many months of planning and the help of many CCA volunteers, the first annual “2012 CCA – Joint Chapter Fishing Tournament” blew in on Galveston Bay. The event was headquartered with a weigh-in and buffet dinner at The Topwater Grill in San Leon, Texas. Our main goal was to get members from Houston and surrounding chapters to participate in this event. In the end we had participants from over eleven different chapters. Continue Reading