News & Events
Recent News
CCA NH integral in shell recycling program to increase Great Bay oysters
To create more oyster beds, the Coastal Conservation Association applied for and received a $10,000 grant from the Orvis Company to involve area restaurants in a University of New Hampshire oyster shell recycling program. Baby oysters, known as "spat," need to attach to a "clutch" to thrive, and oyster shells are the obvious choice.
For more information about the oyster shell recycling program, visit: http://www.oyster.unh.edu/shell_recycling.html.
Read the Article ( SeacoastOnline.com )
If you are interested in getting involved, learning more, or volunteering to help collect Oyster shells, please contact Jeff Barnum
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Proposal Not Adopted After Intense Debate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The proposal to list Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) under Appendix I of CITES was not adopted today by the Parties. The proposal, sponsored by the Principality of Monaco, and strongly supported by the United States, garnered intense debate by the Parties due to the importance of this migratory fish species for commercial purposes. The final tally was 20 in support, 68 against and 30 abstentions.
Read Full Press Release ( www.uscites.gov )
PREP: The 2009 State of the Estuaries Report
A new report from the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) concludes that the environmental quality of the Piscataqua Region estuaries is declining. Eleven of 12 environmental indicators show negative or cautionary trends - up from seven indicators classified this way in 2006.
The most pressing threats to the estuaries relate to population growth and the associated increases in nutrient loads and non-point source pollution.
In Great Bay, the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, which can be harmful at high levels, has increased by 44 percent in the past 28 years.
Other indicators that suggest a declining environment include historically low oyster and clam populations, toxic contaminants present in nearly 25 percent of estuarine sediments, increased prevalence of petroleum-based contaminants in Piscataqua River shellfish, poor migratory fish returns, and continued beach and shellfish bed closures due to bacteria pollution.
United States Support for International Proposal to Protect Bluefin Tuna
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland announced the continued support by the US for a proposal to ban all international commercial trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna at this month's meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Doha, Qatar.
The CCA NH Perspective on Proposal
The CCA NH board weighed both the socio-economic issues and the health of the resource, and the majority felt that a listing would not accelerate a recovery of bluefin tuna.
Read CITES position statement (PDF)
Read CCA NH position letter (PDF)
Casting Blame in Striper Dispute
The striped bass is once again facing a decline in its numbers, and efforts to stem the losses have stoked tensions between commercial and recreational fishermen.
More Bad News for Striped Bass...
ASMFC moves forward with addendum increasing commercial harvest, while New York takes steps toward a directed trawl fishery.
Read More (Reel-Time.com post)
Saltwater Angler Registry Takes Effect January 1, 2010
Starting January 1, most New Hampshire saltwater recreational anglers and spearfishers will need to be registered to fish for anadromous species in tidal waters or for any fish in Federal waters.
For additional info, see NOAA Article
Winnicut Dam Removed
October, 2009
After years of planning and a summer of work, those involved in the removal of Winnicut River Dam celebrated a new era for the river
Read More (SeacoastOnline.com)
Commercial Rollover Quote Defeated
November 3, 2009
On Nov. 2 the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission will vote on a proposal to
allow half the commercial striped bass quota that states fail to catch in one year to be
added to the next year.
Orvis Announces $10k Grant to CCA NH
October, 2009
The Orvis Company of Manchester, Vt. recently announced a grant award of $10,000 to CCA NH to initiate an oyster shell recycling program and bed restoration in Great Bay.