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CCA Atlantic Fisheries
Director
Richen Brame
Brame is
a member of the Operations Team for the Marine Recreational Information
Program (MRIP) developing the nuts and bolts of the new data gathering
program. He is also the liaison between the Operations Team and the
Registry Team that is defining what the angler registry must encompass and
what the states must do to comply with it.
Brame
holds BS and MS degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife Science from North
Carolina State University and worked for several conservation groups
before coming to CCA. He served as the first executive director for CCA in
North Carolina, from 1989 to 2000 and achieved notable fisheries
management goals including passage of the Fisheries Reform Act of 1997.
Under his watch CCA NC also successfully banned the use of fly-net trawls
in the Atlantic to conserve dwindling gray trout stocks, banned shrimp
trawling on weekends in inside waters, and outlawed the use of gill nets
in a dozen high-use recreational fishing areas.
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The ASMFC became the major fishery management
organization on the Atlantic Coast. In 1998, it became clear that CCA -
the largest marine fishery conservation organization in the U.S. - would
need to work with the ASMFC to affect the management of critically
important Atlantic species. CCA created the Atlantic States Fisheries
Committee as a subcommittee of the National Government Relations
Committee. It is comprised of dedicated CCA volunteers working within the
ASMFC system for better Atlantic fisheries management.
The
CCA Atlantic States Fisheries Committee decides annually which species
under ASMFC management are priorities. Representatives from the committee
attend management board meetings and technical committee meetings.
Attendance in this meeting process is critical to fully understand the
biology and management of each particular species. The CCA Atlantic States
Fisheries Committee then formulates goals for each species FMP and works
with the ASMFC to implement them through state organizations and agencies.
Charles A. Witek III of New York, is the CCA
Atlantic States Fisheries Committee Chairman. Richen Brame serves as the
CCA Atlantic States Fisheries Director and staff member for the committee.
CCA News
A new day for menhaden management -
Nov. 9, 2011
For the first time in history, there will be reductions in the harvest of
Atlantic menhaden after a vote today by the Menhaden Management Board of
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Menhaden, which
serve as the primary forage base for most predatory fish, have declined to
the lowest level ever recorded, sparking alarm in the recreational angling
community which has long expressed concern over the impact of industrial
menhaden harvest on sportfish stocks.
“This is a long-anticipated decision and it is a great relief for anglers
to know that managers have finally begun the process of rebuilding this
critical species,” said Charles A. Witek III, chairman of the Atlantic
Fisheries Committee for Coastal Conservation Association.
CCA Angler's Guide to Addendum V of the ASMFC
Menhaden Management Plan - Sept. 23, 2011
A compilation of the history of menhaden management and a review of the
options currently on the table to rebuild the primary forage base of the
Atlantic Coast.
The Atlantic Menhaden Management Board is finally exploring management
options that could halt the decline and hopefully launch the stock on a
positive trajectory. Menhaden are a critical component of the Atlantic
ecosystem. In the simplest terms, the primary ecological attribute for
menhaden is their sheer abundance. Nearly every estuarine and marine
predatory fish, mammal and bird eats them at some point in their life
cycle. Menhaden are a lower trophic order species, which means they
"graze" on the small organisms in the water that convert the sun’s energy
into cellulose. Menhaden are the key ingredient in the ecosystem that
literally convert the sun’s energy to protein.
The current menhaden management system has allowed this critical species
to decline to the lowest abundance ever recorded.
CCA NY
Thanks Governor, Legislators for Prohibiting Commercial Striped Bass
Fishery in the Hudson River - August 18, 2010
Coastal Conservation Association New York is taking this opportunity to
thank New York’s Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, along with the members of New
York’s Senate and Assembly, for enacting legislation which will protect
New York’s spawning population of striped bass. The legislation, which
Governor Cuomo signed today, prevents any reopening of a commercial
striped bass fishery on the Hudson River until at least 2015. CCA’s
special thanks goes not only to Governor Cuomo, but also to the sponsors
of the bill, Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti and Senator Mark Grisanti.
Menhaden management moves up the food chain
- August 4, 2011
Menhaden management has long been a sore point among conservationists
as intense commercial harvest of the species in the Chesapeake Bay has
added to factors believed to be negatively impacting striped bass and
other gamefish all along the East Coast. The primary industrial harvester
of Atlantic menhaden, Omega Protein, has never had its harvest effectively
restricted and stands as one of the very few commercial fishing operations
in the country to successfully avoid management measures that might impact
its bottom line.
Economics Make the Case for North Carolina Gamefish
Bill - April 18, 2011
North Carolina has the opportunity to increase the economic impact of
fishery management to the entire state with a single bill - H.B. 353, a
bill to make striped bass, red drum and speckled trout gamefish. According
to a study released this week by Coastal Conservation Association of North
Carolina, the economic impacts of recreational angling for those three
species dwarf those of the commercial sector and make a compelling case
for legislative measures that enhance recreational fisheries.
Click
HERE for the complete economic
analysis
Menhaden Management Finally Begins -
March 24, 2011
ALEXANDRIA, VA
– For the first time ever, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
took steps to rein in the industrial harvest of menhaden and begin the
process of managing the menhaden fishery. If adopted, the measures
proposed today by the Menhaden Management Board would lead to a reduction
of menhaden harvest in both the reduction and bait fisheries.
“After years of inaction, this is an excellent first step toward
recovering a critical forage base,” said Richen Brame, CCA Atlantic States
Fisheries director. “This action is significant, simply because the
science on menhaden as a vital forage base is improving, and it is the
science that is now driving this process. Some folks will feel that the
proposals today do not go far enough, but it is imperative to point out
that although this does not get us across the plate, it does get us in
scoring position.”
CCA
North Carolina Goes For Gamefish Status for Speckled Trout, Striped
Bass and Red Drum - March 10, 2011
Click here for a video produced by CCA North Carolina to explain the
chapter's efforts to seek game fish status for Speckled Trout, Red
Drum, and Striped Bass.
Marine Fisheries Commission sanctions striped bass slaughter
- Feb. 14, 2011
In an appalling disregard for the indiscriminate killing of
striped bass by the commercial trawl net fishermen, the North Carolina
Marine fisheries Commission (NCMFC) voted to continue these wasteful
practices.
CCA
North Carolina Seeks End to
Trawling - Feb. 10, 2011
In
response to a rash of massive striped bass kills along the coast, CCA
North Carolina will request the NC Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) to
eliminate trawling
of any kind as a permissible fishing gear for striped bass.
The incidents, photographed and videotaped by recreational anglers in the
area, were the result of commercial trawling operations in state waters
and have prompted outrage up and down the East Coast. CCA North Carolina
will request decisive action at the MFC meeting in Pine Knolls, Feb.
10-11.
“The MFC
has an obligation to responsibly manage these resources,” said Jay Dail,
Chairman of the CCA NC. “Allowing a fishery to dump thousands of dead
stripers over the side as a regular course of doing business is not
responsible management. At the very least, the Commission should
immediately outlaw the use of indiscriminate, highly destructive trawls in
state waters in favor of more selective gear.”
Fishing for Irony - Feb. 7, 2011
They say that fishing is the world’s second oldest occupation, so it is
likely there have been more ironic events in its long, storied history,
but the recent letter from Massachusetts’s Governor Deval Patrick to
President Obama must rank near the top of the list.
For those of you who missed it, Gov. Patrick expressed his “extraordinary
frustration” with the lack of responsiveness the Commonwealth has
experienced with the U.S. Department of Commerce and its agencies on the
challenges facing commercial fishermen in Massachusetts. The Governor is
upset with the severe regulations that have been placed on his
hard-working commercial fishing community and the effect it is having on
the state’s economy.
Different Regulations, Same Result off North Carolina -
Feb. 7, 2011
In a mistake that was entirely predictable, the state’s Marine Fisheries
Commission (MFC) has allowed the use of large trawl nets among large
schools of striped bass. And, for the third time in less than three weeks,
a massive striped bass kill has occurred. The latest example of
"regulatory dead discards" was photographed from a helicopter off Oregon
Inlet this week and was again evidenced by a long trail of dead striped
bass in the vicinity of commercial trawlers. The latest kill was four
miles long and a half-mile wide, and consisted of thousands of dead
stripers that were dumped at sea after being snared and culled by
commercial boats.
Maryland gill net closure announced
-
Feb. 4, 2011
Maryland's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) just announced that the
current commercial gill net season has been closed until the Department
determines the extent of illegal nets and their impact on the remaining
quota. The announcement follows the discovery of submerged nets near
Bloody Point over the past several days that held more than 10 tons of
striped bass. The announcement was made by DNR Deputy Secretary Joseph
Gill at an Annapolis news conference this afternoon.
"Today's announcement demonstrates that illegal fishing that steals the
resource from all Marylanders will not be tolerated," said CCA Maryland
Executive Director Tony Friedrich.
Striped
Bass Latest Target of Destructive Fishing Practices in North
Carolina
- Jan. 19, 2011
January 15th marked the opening for commercial harvest of striped bass in
N.C. Following this opening, hundreds, if not thousands, of dead striped
bass, red drum, and other fish were seen and photographed floating in NC
waters. These dead fished were caught by commercial trawl boats and
dumped over the side. This type of fishery requires “culling” or
selecting the largest caught fish and discarding the rest, dead or alive.
Fisheries managers take huge step toward righting
allocations - Nov. 10,
2010
Conservationists praise ASMFC decision on striped
bass - Nov. 9, 2010
Fisheries Allocations
Still Out of Whack - Aug. 31, 2010
Council
appointments a step forward for anglers - June 24, 2010
CCA Formal
Comments on Addendum II to Amendment 6 of the ASMFC Striped Bass Fishery
Management Plan - June 15, 2010
ASMFC Finally Cuts Bait - May 11,
2010
ASMFC Continues
Effort to Increase Commercial Bass Harvest
-
May 7, 2010
ASMFC Takes Wrong Turn on
Striped Bass
- Feb. 10, 2010
ASFMC Denies
Increase in Commercial Striped Bass Harvest
CCA Opposes
Proposed Rollover of Commercial Harvest
CCA Comments to the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission on Addendum II - Commercial Striped
Bass Harvest Rollover
CCA Comments
on Weakfish Management
Will a saltwater
license really reduce the number of anglers?
Click
HERE
to see all CCA press releases.
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Click
HERE for information on
H.B. 353
The North Carolina Coastal Game Fish Bill
Atlantic Fisheries News
CCA NY praises Senator Charles Schumer's Actions to Protect Summer Flounder Anglers
schumer.senate.gov
January 11, 2012
Full text of Senator Schumer’s press release
Fisheries regulators cut menhaden catch to protect other species
Boston.com
Nov. 10, 2011
Commission shelves reduction of rockfish harvest in bay
Baltimore Sun
Nov. 8, 2011
Summer flounder report bleak
Delmarva Now
Nov. 4, 2011
2012 fluke recommendations to be reconsidered
Asbury Park Press
Oct. 31, 2011
Study: Cod now in dire straits
Gloucester Daily Times
Oct. 27, 2011
Higher striped bass numbers bring cautious optimism
New York Post
Oct. 26, 2011
Two grants to remove derelict fishing gear from Long Island Sound
FIS
Oct. 19, 2011
Number of young striped bass in Chesapeake Bay spikes
Baltimore Sun (blog)
Oct. 18, 2011
2011 a Banner Year for Young Striped Bass in Virginia
Newswise (press release)
Oct. 17, 2011
2011 Young of the Year Striped Bass Survey Shows Fourth Highest
Reproduction On Record
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
October 18, 2011
Help Save "The Most Important Fish in the Sea"
Fly Rod & Reel Magazine (blog)
October 2011
Bluefin carcass washes ashore
Hampton Union
Oct. 10, 2011
Safeguarding Our Sport
SaltWater Sportsman
Oct. 3, 2011
A Tropical Technique for Maine’s Shallows
New York Times
Oct. 1, 2011
No easy answer on stripers
Albany Times Union
Sept. 30, 2011
GPS Could be Used to Deter Chesapeake Bay Poachers
Southern Maryland Online
Sept. 27, 2011
Hook-and-line gear rules being readied for striped bass
Jacksonville Daily News
Sept. 23, 2011
Lionfish spreading throughout western Atlantic
Daytona Beach
News-Journal
Sept. 17, 2011
Maryland seeks sustainability seal for
striped bass
Baltimore Sun (blog)
Sept. 16, 2011
60 recreational fishermen face loss of licenses
Baltimore Sun
Sept. 13, 2011
MFC votes to continue striper trawling, new speck
FMP to come in November
North Carolina Sportsman
Sept. 12, 2011
Striped bass trawling ban rejected
StarNewsOnline.com
Sept. 8, 2011
Stormy Waters Ahead for Eelgrass
Southern Maryland
Online
Sept. 7, 2011
Big cuts expected in black sea bass catches, but other limits may rise
Press of Atlantic City
August 31, 2011
Fluke making a comeback
Ct Post
August 27, 2011
Fishing Column: Cuomo protects striped bass in Hudson River
Stamford Advocate
August 26, 2011
Maine gets $1.1M to track Atlantic salmon
By The Associated Press
August 24, 2011
Rockfish poaching leads to crackdown on watermen
Annapolis Capital
August 23, 2011
Law bans Hudson commercial striped bass fishing
Albany Times Union
August 19, 2011
State may get larger summer flounder quota
Press of Atlantic City
August 18, 2011
New regulations proposed for fishing striped bass
Delmarva Now
August 18, 2011
NC regulators consider new rules for ocean striped bass fishing
StarNewsOnline.com
August 17, 2011
Md. lawmakers to get striped bass rule changes
The Associated Press
August 15, 2011
Crucial MFC meeting cancelled because no commercial fishing members will
show up
Examiner.com
August 9, 2011
Holding the line on poaching
Baltimore Sun
August 8, 2011
USS Radford's Sinking Could Be Delayed Again
WAMU
August 7, 2011
ASMFC takes historic 1st step to protect menhaden
Baltimore Sun
August 3, 2011
Sappi starts work on fish ladder
The Portland Press Herald
July 29, 2011
New Law Imposes Stiff Fines, Jail Time for Over Fishing Striped Bass
Patch.com
July 28, 2011
Bottom Dweller Makes A Comeback
Patch.com
July 28, 2011
Midnight magic off Montauk
Port Times Record
July 27, 2011
Virginia rejects bid for large Chesapeake Bay oyster farm
Daily Press (blog)
July 27, 2011
The price of striped bass
Baltimore Sun (blog)
July 26, 2011
After legal loss, NE fishermen turn to Congress
San Antonio Express
July 24, 2011
General Assembly Toughens Penalties for Striped Bass Poaching
Patch.com
July 22, 2011
Is saltwater fishing better or worse this year?
The Apex Herald
July 19, 2011
House Committee 'Interferes' With LightSquared
Deployment
Aero News Network
June 25, 2011
Old ships find new purpose at the bottom of the sea
Washington Post
July 18, 2011
Where Have All the
Menhaden Gone?
Fly Fish America
May/June 2011
Annihilate An Entire Species of Fish, and Other Easy Ways To Really Mess
Things Up
Mother Jones
July 15, 2011
Annual stock report shows steady progress toward rebuilding our nation's
fisheries
NOAA
July 14, 2011
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