How Well Is the CCA Mindset Working?
Last week I showed you just one of the many tricks the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina (CCA) uses to sway public perception of our fisheries in North Carolina. Another trick CCA has mastered is simply not answering questions. If you watched the interview last week maybe you noticed this trick as well.
I will link the interview again if you care to rewatch:
https://spectruminfocus.com/section/in-focus/in-focus-shows/2023/06/17/in-focus–n-c–fishing-feud
During Mr. Sneed’s interview segment, he was asked about fishing in other states. Ms. Boniti asked, “NC is not unique that it’s facing these challenges with recreational and commercial fishing. Other states have faced these challenges and have made changes. How has it worked out on other states?”
Mr. Sneed replied, “Well, I think that it is a mindset. You have to have a philosophy that you are going to manage with the resource in mind first and that you are going to have a conservation mindset within your management.”
I am not sure what mindset Mr. Sneed is referring to. Maybe it is the net ban mindset that CCA was founded on in Texas; the ban that extended to 3 other states and displaced fishing families and communities throughout the Southeastern United States. Maybe it is the catch and release “mindset” where harvest reductions are always needed but they always insist on zero accountability for recreational dead discards. Maybe it is the game fish “mindset” where any and all commercial harvest or sale of the species is eliminated. Surely these were some of the “challenges” and definitely some of the “changes” CCA prides itself on.
Well since Mr. Sneed chose not to answer, “How has it worked out in other states?” I thought I would let his fellow CCA chapters from other states answer the question. These are easy to find articles and they show how the CCA “mindset” of eliminating commercial harvest and reducing recreational harvest without addressing catch and release dead discards has worked out. Let me know what you think.
https://ccalouisiana.com/news/speckled-trout-cca-louisiana-statement-on-pending-changes/
https://ccatexas.org/southern-flounder-struggles/
https://ccasouthcarolina.com/new-flounder-legislation-a-proactive-step-forward/
https://ccaga.org/2022/09/24/proposed-regulation-changes-statement/
Thomas Newman
Fisheries Liaison
Upcoming Meetings
Striped Mullet FMP Advisory Committee Workshop
NCDMF will be holding the workshop at the Craven County Community College, Naumann Community Room within Ward Hall, 800 College Ct., New Bern
Tuesday July 25th 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wednesday July 26th 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday July 27th 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
The workshop is open to the public, but public comment will not be held. The public is welcome to speak with staff and advisory committee members during breaks.
More information can be found here:
HMS Amendment 16: Shark Management Scoping
HMS staff will be holding an in person meeting Tuesday, July 25th 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Dare County Public Library at 700 Highway 64/264 Manteo, NC.
NOAA Fisheries announces the availability of a scoping document for Amendment 16 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan and our intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Amendment 16 could result in large changes to the entire commercial and recreational shark fishery including changes to commercial and recreational shark quotas, shark management groups, shark retention or bag limits, and shark minimum size limits.
Overview:
Federal Register:
Supporting Materials:
SAFMC Seeks Public Comment on Commercial Electronic Logbooks
Three public hearing webinars will be held at 6:00 pm
Tuesday July 25th
Wednesday July 26th
Thursday July 27th
Register here:
These webinars are your chance for questions and public comment as the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Councils continue to develop this amendment to transition commercial paper logbooks to electronic reporting. These proposed changes would apply to any commercial fishermen that hold a Southeast Permit.
Additional details, including the public hearing presentation and an online public comment form is currently available from the Council’s website: https://safmc.net/events/july-2023-public-hearings-commercial-electronic-logbook-amendment/.