rants and at oyster festivals is to the future of our marine resources. We have some great volunteers who have gone out and spread the word, and the result this weekend is about 1,450 bushels of shell that will soon be at the heart of a reef attracting trout and redfish.”
“Celebrating Conservation” events on the rise
Local chapters and the thousands of members and volunteers that partici- pate in them are what make CCASC so effective. By the end of January, local members and volunteers were already busy planning their local chapter fundraising events known throughout the state as “Celebrating Conser- vation” fundraising events. As has been publicized many times, member- ship, communication and money lead to successful advocacy. Without any one of these, there can be no conserva- tion. Please make your plans now to attend one or more of the events that take place beginning in March. On March 25, you can attend events in the Waccamaw and Columbia. In April, the ACE Basin and East Cooper areas of the state will also be holding events. Additional chapter banquets
will be coming in May as well. Visit the CCASC website for advanced notice of the local chapter events in your area and come be a part of the largest marine conservation group in the state.
Spring Topwater Action activity schedule
CCASC‘s habitat program has been in full swing throughout the winter season, collecting oysters for recycling. The results of those winter efforts will soon be put to use with the beginning of the summer oyster reef restoration efforts. Last year, CCA SC volunteers and members participated in the con- struction of four oyster reefs up and down the coast of South Carolina. This year’s efforts will be more ambitious. “Watching this program develop
and grow has been extremely exciting for CCASC,” said Scott Whitaker, exec- utive director CCA South Carolina. “To have the volunteers come together and focus on habitat improvement and to see the support that continues to build from local communities and businesses for this effort is overwhelming.” CCA SC is currently scheduling activities with the SC DNR S.C.O.R.E. program to bag and prepare the oysters for distribution along the coast. Actual oyster reef projects will be scheduled soon afterward. Visit the CCA SC web- site for coming events.
TEXAS Push to recover flounder stocks
Two years ago, as southern flounder stocks in Texas continued to decline, CCA Texas decided that something needed to be done to reverse the trend. Since then, CCA Texas has actively pushed for the regulation changes and scientific research needed to begin the recovery process of the species. These efforts have been backed by $63,000 in funding from the Texas chapter over the last two years.
During the fall flounder run, heavy concentrations of flounder stage in channels and passes as they prepare to enter the gulf to spawn. This pattern has long made the species susceptible to angling pressure, and CCA Texas
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