We received this note from the Virginia Coastal Conservation Assocaition. Please act if you live in Virginia!

Virginia’s marine resources would be imperiled if Senate Bill 1087 passes in the General Assembly. CCA VA  urges your immediate action to defeat this bill.

The bill would dedicate THREE associate commissioner seats on an expanded Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) to commercial watermen. This
compares to the ONE seat that is held by a recreational fisherman. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources reported SB1087 out of committee on January 26 by a vote of 13 to 2. If the bill is passed in the Senate, then it will go to a House Committee for consideratio
We ask that you immediately call or email your state senator or delegate who will soon vote on SB1087. If you do not know the names of your senator and delegate, click here: Welcome to the Virginia General Assembly – Who’s My Legislator? It’s simple … just state your name and telephone number, and tell the legislative aide to ask your Senator or Delegate to vote NO on SB1087.

At the Senate Committee hearing, commercial watermen representatives talked about the state of the blue crab fishery and how Continue Reading »

Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative (MARI) partners including the Ocean City Reef Foundation, MTA New York City Transit, the Town of Ocean City, CCA MD and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), placed 44 retired New York City subway cars off Maryland’s Atlantic coast for creation of two new artificial reefs, the Research Reef and the Isle of Wight Reef. This is the third deployment of subway cars on permitted reef sites off Maryland’s coast since May, 2008 when Maryland joined several other Atlantic coastal states in a habitat enhancement plan which recycles decommissioned New York City Transit Authority subway cars to improve benthic habitats off the Atlantic coast.

“This week’s placement of subway cars on the near shore sites at Research Reef and Isle of Wight will provide benefits to sport fishermen and divers, through the enhancement of these sandy, hard bottom, slough areas. In particular, small boat fishermen will have two new locations to fish within easy access of the Ocean City Inlet,” said Martin Gary of Maryland DNR’s Fisheries Service. “The over 60 partners in the Maryland Artificial Reef Initiative, and the Ocean City Reef Foundation continue to improve marine habitat through their commitment to raising the necessary funds to transport the cars to the Maryland coast”, Gary said.

The Research Reef is approximately 8 nautical miles southeast of the Ocean City, Md. inlet, and Continue Reading »