News Release
 Coastal Conservation Association
6919 Portwest, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77024
Email: twvenker@joincca.org  Website: www.joincca.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 2, 2009 CONTACT: Ted Venker, 1-800-201-FISH
CCA to Testify Before Senate Committee on Oceans Policy
Committee seeks CCA’s input on role for recreational fisheries in ocean, coastal stewardship
 
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S.Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, has invited Coastal Conservation Association to appear before a hearing on Nov. 4 to testify on the National Ocean Policy Task Force’s Interim Report. CCA federal lobbyist Matt Paxton will address the development of the National Ocean Policy and the role for recreational fisheries in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes stewardship.
 
“The Senate Commerce Committee is critical in the passage and implementation of laws that impact the oceans and fisheries,” said Matt Paxton, CCA federal lobbyist. “This is the committee that gives the Administration the legal authority to do what it wants to do with the National Ocean Policy.”
 
The hearing is the first Congressional hearing specifically about the National Ocean Policy and CCA intends to highlight several areas of concern in its testimony, particularly the need to include recreational anglers as a core element in the development of any overarching oceans policy.
 
“In this type of policy which is specifically about conservation and the health of our ocean resources, we have to be a part of that process,” said Paxton. “It is incumbent upon the Administration to recognize recreational anglers as stakeholders and stewards of the marine environment.”
 
CCA has also objected to the speed of the process to develop a National Ocean Policy and has sought to have concepts that are prominently featured in it, such "ecosystem-based management" and "marine spatial planning” clarified.
 
“These terms are not defined and could be extremely problematic for anglers,” said Paxton. “The Interim Report discusses ecosystem-based management and marine spatial planning as federal mandates. We do not believe the Administration has the authority to shoehorn these concepts into existing laws and implement them. The legal authority to do these things has to come through this Committee, which makes this hearing critical.”
 
The Interim Report has drawn widespread criticism from the recreational angling community for attempting to fast-track sweeping reforms for the management of resources in federal waters, but failing to recognize – or even mention – the conservation, economic or social contributions of recreational angling.
 
“Recognizing the economic importance of the boating and angling sector should be a key part of this policy,” said Paxton. “But even beyond that, any oceans policy should celebrate and promote the use and enjoyment of the marine environment by the public, much like the policies that govern our National Parks.”

Greetings from the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute!
 
We hope you enjoy the new articles and updates added to the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute's Web site in October.
 
New
 
Interview with a Scientist
http://research.myfwc.com/education/view_article.asp?id=14549
Take a glimpse into the life of a scientist. Our current featured researcher is Angela Collins.
 
Research Spotlight: Diving into Goliath Grouper Research
September/October 2009
http://research.myfwc.com/education/view_article.asp?id=33402
 
Small Mammal Monitoring Internship
http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=33317
The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) seek applicants for fall and winter internships for FWRI’s Terrestrial Mammal Research Program in Panama City.
 
Press Release
 
Biologists ask anglers to report tagged largemouth bass
Released October 9, 2009
http://research.myfwc.com/news/view_article.asp?id=33334
FWC rescues manatee with watercraft-related injuries
Released October 14, 2009
http://research.myfwc.com/news/view_article.asp?id=33368

Updates
 
Commercial Fisheries Landings in Florida
http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=19224
Download Florida landings data for all commercially harvested finfish and invertebrate species.
 
ECOHAB: Karenia
http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=31617
The Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) program is a national study of harmful algal blooms. ECOHAB: Karenia is a subproject that focuses on Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism.
 
Event Calendar
http://research.myfwc.com/news/calendar.asp
Are you interested in regional events that involve the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute? Check our regularly updated calendar of events for activities to enjoy.
 
Fish Kill Database Directory
http://research.myfwc.com/fishkill
Search the fish kill database for records of fish kills and fish abnormalities reported in Florida as far back as 1972, when the first fish kill was reported to FWRI.
 
General Species Descriptions
http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=24273
These brief descriptions of HAB species provide general information about each organism as well as scanning electron micrographs of the species.
 
Manatee Mortality
http://research.myfwc.com/manatees 
Search a summary manatee mortality database for information by county, cause of death, and date.
 
Red Tide Current Status Statewide Information
http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=9670
This summary report of current red tide conditions around Florida includes a map of sampling results and regional status reports. Reports are generally updated on Friday afternoon. Additional information, if available, is provided on Tuesday afternoon.