FAQs
What is CCA Maryland?
How are CCA Maryland's political, fisheries and legislative positions established?
Does CCA Maryland employ biologists?
Does CCA Maryland employ lobbyists?
How do I find out what CCA Maryland is doing to conserve marine resources legislatively and in the fisheries management arena?
How can I help CCA Maryland?
How can I join CCA Maryland?
Where does my membership and/or fundraiser contribution go?
What has CCA Maryland done so far?
What is CCA Maryland?
We are active anglers dedicated to protecting and improving the marine fishery for present and future generations. We have nine local chapters within Maryland.
Some chapters have monthly meetings which are open to the public and usually include a speaker dealing with some aspect of fishing, fisheries, or conservation. Speakers often are charter boat captains, commercial guides, expert anglers, employees of DNR, or representatives of conservation organizations. A significant amount of socializing occurs before and after these meetings.
CCA MD and local chapters conduct activities that raise funds, increase membership, educate the public, and provide fishing opportunities for kids and special needs groups. We also participate in spawning surveys, habitat restoration activities, stock improvement projects, and generally assist DNR with unfunded, but critical needs.
Annually each local chapter elects officers and a chapter board which meet on a regular basis. These members make decisions for the local chapter and send representatives to state meetings and events. back to top
How are CCA Maryland's political, fisheries and legislative positions established?
CCA MD makes all decisions from the bottom up, involving our membership in all policy positions. Through an extensive web of volunteer committees and boards, CCA’s state and/or national (depending on the issue) volunteer executive committees vote to adopt policies and positions. Every position is based on facts, strategy and 30 years of conservation experience. back to top
Does CCA Maryland employ biologists?
Yes. CCA employs Atlantic and Gulf fisheries consultants to monitor key recreational issues on national and regional levels. CCA MD contributes financially to this program. Additionally, CCA relies on data from state and federal sources, but has supported and funded research (on both a state and national level) to provide greater insight into marine resource issues and problems. CCA MD also relies on members who are biologists, including a former director of DNR's Fisheries Service. back to top
Does CCA Maryland employ lobbyists?
No, but several of our volunteers spend hundreds of hours lobbying in Annapolis. CCA has a registered lobbyist in Washington, D.C. back to top
How do I find out what CCA Maryland is doing to conserve marine resources legislatively and in the fisheries management arena?
Read TIDE magazine “TIDE-Bits” and the Maryland CHESAPEAKE TIDE magazine for updates on Maryland activities. On the CCA MD website check out the sidebar for headlines and go to Grassroots Action Center for the latest campaigns. back to top
How can I help CCA Maryland?
The best way any member can help is to get involved on a local level. Call the state office (888.758.6580) and ask for a contact number for the volunteer or director in charge of a chapter near you. If there is not a local chapter, ask what you can do to start one.
Through local fundraising events and membership meetings, CCA MD plants its grass roots. This process enables you to become involved in the mechanism that makes CCA so successful on a local, state, and national level. back to top
How can I join CCA Maryland?
Click on JOIN CCA anywhere you see it on this site, call the state office (888.758.6580), attend a local chapter meeting, visit our booth at a fishing or boat show, or attend a fundraising banquet. back to top
Where does my membership and/or fundraiser contribution go?
While the membership contribution is sent directly to CCA National, a portion of the money is returned to Maryland. Supplemented by funds raised through dinners, auctions, and raffles, the combined total pays for local conservation projects, youth projects, member events, our Maryland Executive Director, our Maryland State Office, and operating expenses such as this website. CCA National pays for publication and distribution of the bimonthly membership magazine, TIDE. CCA National also maintains the membership department, pays for our annual audit, maintains insurance coverage, and supports our federal lobbyist in Washington, D.C. back to top
What has CCA Maryland done so far?
CCA Maryland has enhanced recreational fishing through:
• Working to pass Freedom to Fish legislation
• Bringing the recreational striped bass quota in balance with the commercial quotas
• Protecting recreational crabbing interests
• Expanding recreational fishing areas for the 2004 striped bass spring season
• Partnering with Solomon’s Island Charterboat Association and MSSA to establish fishing reefs in the Chesapeake Bay
• Working to establish the Memorial Stadium Oyster/Fishing Reef
• Helping to establish a consistent opening date for the striped bass spring trophy season
• Lobbying for important marine resource bills
CCA Maryland has protected and restored marine resources by:
• Fighting for “No-Sale” of black drum
• Working to restore yellow perch to their former abundance and range
• Stopping SAV destruction by working to ban crab scrapes in the northern Chesapeake Bay and tributaries
• Working to stop expansion of oyster power dredging
• Fighting the continued strip mining of shells from fossil oyster reefs in the northern Chesapeake Bay
• Pushing for implementation of changes in menhaden management
• Providing DNR’s Natural Resources Police with unbudgeted equipment
CCA Maryland members serve on:
• Sport Fish Advisory Commission
• Tidal Fisheries Advisory Commission
• Coastal Bays Fisheries Advisory Committee
• Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
CCA Maryland conducts the following annual youth educational fishing events:
• The Kids Fishing Derby at the annual Waterfowl Festival in Easton
• The Bill Perry Memorial Youth Fishing Derby at the Choptank River Bridge
• The Joe Judge Memorial Youth Fishing Derby from Kent Narrows
• The CCA MD/CBF Educational Ecosystem Fishing Program
• The Special Needs Kids Event in Anne Arundel County
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