Be the Change

If you want to make a difference, you have to be a part of the solution.  Grass-roots efforts are the strongest of all, and Coastal Conservation Association Texas (CCA Texas) has benefited from the strength of grass roots efforts dating back to that first meeting of a few recreational anglers in 1977.  The Gulf Coast Conservation Association (GCCA), which later became Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) has now been a force in coastal fisheries management issues for 45 years.  The success of the organization has been possible because of dedicated, energized, and driven members who are the energy of the organization.  National, state and local chapter level leadership are driven by those that have like minds, and a desire to make a difference.

Every recreational angler has an opportunity to make a difference, no matter how small it may seem.  The simple act of stopping as you cross the bay to pick up a piece of trash; only keeping one or two fish for a fresh meal; or participating in an organized beach or bay cleanup all leave lasting impressions on those around us, especially younger generations.  Many anglers across the state take it a step further and get involved with a local CCA chapter.  Some volunteers are there no matter what. Always willing to help out with the local chapter fundraiser, youth fishing events, outreach in the local community, secondary chapter events and much more.  Every chapter is led by volunteers all working for the vision of CCA.  This vision is to ensure the health and conservation of our marine resources and anglers’ access to them.  The users of a resource are its strongest advocates, and CCA is blessed with strong leadership from top to bottom.

CCA Texas fundraising season will be beginning to hit full stride when this issue hits the newsstands.  Now is a great opportunity to get involved with a local chapter and help with their banquet, and/or other secondary events that they hold.  Most recently, CCA Texas chapters up and down the coast participated in the annual TPWD Crab Trap Cleanup and the Padre Island National Seashore Beach Cleanup, also known as the Billy Sandifer Beach Cleanup.  Both of these events are classic examples of volunteers that had a vision to make a difference.

The TPWD Crab Trap Cleanup was born after longtime CCA member Ronnie Luster was enlisted by local game wardens in Port O’Connor to help pull some derelict crab traps.  Ronnie quickly realized this was a big issue.  Ronnie was quoted in a 2017 Houston Chronicle article, "I just kicked the rock," Luster modestly said of the move to address the derelict trap issue. "CCA picked it up and ran with it."  In the 2001 session of the Texas Legislature, a bill by State Sen. Buster Brown, R-Lake Jackson, made the annual Crab Trap Cleanup official. The bill authorized Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to set a short closure of all Texas bays to crab traps and designated any traps in the water during the closure as "litter" that could be removed by anyone.  This annual closure is still in effect today and volunteers from across the state and along the coast are still making a difference.

As this article is being written, TPWD has begun the public hearing process for a proposal that would close Ayers, Mesquite and Carlos Bays (the Mesquite Bay complex) to all harvest of oysters.  TPWD Commission will make their decision at their March 24^th meeting.  This decision could be a generational change for oyster habitat and overall ecosystem health in this area.  TPWD Coastal Fisheries staff has worked diligently to put this proposal together, and local volunteers in the Aransas Bay Chapter and others have taken an active role in advocating for change that will help ensure a healthy resource.  CCA Texas looks forward to working with TPWD and the oyster industry to ensure a vibrant fishery for future generations.

CCA volunteers have made a difference from day one and are still the back bone of the organization.  CCA Texas has been blessed to have the leadership it has had, and at the Annual Board meeting in February, Chairman Mark Ray announced that he was stepping down from his CCA Texas leadership role.  Mark has been a fixture within the leadership of CCA Texas, and his love of the organization was never more evident as he announced the decision to step down.  Mark has been the Chairman of CCA Texas for the past 15 years and leaves this role in the extremely capable hands of Immediate Past CCA Texas President John Carlson, another longtime member and leader.  Mark and John are also both active members of CCA National leadership and the organization wishes to thank them for their past, present and future leadership roles.  Mark and John are both great examples of local chapter volunteers that have grown within the organization over time and continue to provide a committed grass roots effort.  Mark and John are the perfect example of….. “Be the change.”

For more information about CCA Texas and how to get involved, be sure to visit www.ccatexas.org.