FISHERMEN'S CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

The Fisherman’s Conservation Association formed to serve the needs of the fishing community February 17, 2006. After years of frustration and disagreement over the direction of New York’s Chapter of a national Conservation Association, several key board members, including the association’s Chairman and President, resigned and announced the formation of a new conservation organization. Captain Frank Crescitelli said that the new organization would better meet and serve the fishing community’s needs.

“Our primary goal remains conservation of the marine resource,” Crescitelli said, “and now we will have a strong organization of like-minded fishermen who want to make a difference".

Captain Scott Holder said that efforts in the past were continually compromised by a lack of focus and the amount of time spent on individual or personal ideas. “We continually got bogged down and weren’t able to address all the real issues that face the fishing community,” Holder said. “I personally felt we could no longer effectively work as a team to do the job that our members entrusted us to do.”

The new group, called the Fisherman’s Conservation Association (FCA), is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote the “Conservation Triad”: Access, Habitat, and Fisheries Management. Financial support of FCA directly benefits New York, New Jersey and Connecticut’s marine waters. The association’s immediate priorities include fighting the proposed dumping of toxic waste in Jamaica Bay, illegal poaching, beach access and a variety of fisheries related issues.

The FCA recently established a chapter in New Jersey in the Highlands area. Everyone at the FCA is excited to be expanding the FCA’s reach.

Anyone wanting to learn more or to help make a difference in either the New York or New Jersey chapters can visit the FCA website at www.joinfca.org.

OUR IMMEDIATE GOALS:

The Fisherman’s Conservation Association is specifically working toward the development and implementation of the following objectives.

• Continue the “Hooked For A Lifetime” fishing program for children, teaching inner city kids that fishing can be a great way to have fun, and be “involved” in positive activities with positive people. Not only will we show children where and when to fish, they will leave the program with materials and equipment to continue to enjoy what they were taught and exposed to at the program. Each child will receive a rod, reel, tackle and “How To” guide. By getting kids “Hooked on Fishing” we are establishing a generation of future stewards of the marine resource. In 2006 the FCA put over 100 kids through the Hooked For a Lifetime program

• Host an annual surf fishing seminar on the beach to educate anglers of all ages, exposing them to the wonderful resource we have. The seminar makes participants aware that our coastlines are worthy of and in need of protection. Past seminars have garnered many new members, and increased support of the organization’s causes.

• Continue to hold beach clean-ups, in an effort to improve the environment and the public image of recreational anglers. Clean-ups prove that anglers are givers, not only takers from the resource. In 2006 the FCA held five different beach clean-ups all across the NY area.

•Work with local officials to improve angler access, and awareness of fishing in general. Show officials how many saltwater anglers we have in local communities and the importance of our voice. Set up meetings with property owners to address their concerns about the increased use of beaches and parking spots in their neighborhoods.

• Organize the annual FCA Manhattan Cup, a catch and release fishing tournament that attracts anglers from all over the country, promoting catch and release; the cornerstone of marine conservation. The event makes anglers realize that waters surrounding big cities can support some of the best fishing in the country, and these bodies are in need of protection against pollution and other perils of urban sprawl. 2007 will be the second year the FCA has run the Manhattan Cup Tournament.

• Partner with other conservation and environmental groups to enhance and protect our vital marine resources. Specifically, we are working with the NY/NJ Bay keeper on the Oyster Reef Restoration Project in New York Harbor. This venture has established an oyster reef near the Statue of Liberty. Oyster reefs are the best natural water purifiers, and an excellent symbol of a healthy fishery.

• Work to get game fish status for Striped Bass. In 2006 the FCA in conjunction with Striper’s Forever funded the first ever Southwick Study, which showed the economic impact Game fish status would have on the New York economy. The study showed and 85 million dollar gain to NY’s economy if they made Striped Bass a Game fish. The FCA is now using this information to get Game fish status in NY.

• Carefully monitor local Army Corps of Engineer projects. The Long Beach Renourishment Program and the proposed filling of borrow pits in Jamaica Bay pose severe threats to the marine habitat. The FCA will take a pragmatic but conservation minded stand to make sure the fishery is not adversely impacted by these projects.