Tim,
Rather my expounding on the virtues of the CCA let me quote from a registration I recently recieved for an upcoming NH Estuaries Evironmental Network Conference from the NH Coastal Conservation Association(CCA).
"CCA is a group of sport fishermen and conservationists working together to improve coastal conditions including:
1. Educating people of the serious problems that threaten our marine environment.
2. Advoacating appropriate size and catch limits based on the biology of the fish to allow for healthy populations of all ocean/coastal species.
3. Participating in state and federal regulatory processes as members of advisroy panels and commissions."
Since you live in NH, try contacting William Hubbard, Secretary of the NH CCA, PO BOX 242, CTR. Barnstead, NH 03226-0242. (Not to slight anyone, I think Fred Gamache is the president of the NH CCA Chapter) These gentlemen can fill you in on NH CCA activities and the new partnership between CCA in NH And Maine and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to extend the USFWS catch-tag-and release program into NH and ME.
The conference I previously mentioned is a joint New Hampshire Estuaries Project(NHEP)/NH Coastal Program Conference intended to highlight all the natural-resource related, research, planning, pollution abatement, and habitat enhancement/restoration projects going on in NH's Pisquataqua River, Great Bay, and Seacoast watersheds. Researchers, state agency representatives, municipalities and community groups will be presenting brief overviews of their recent and upcoming work. For questions about the conference you can give me a ring: Jim Chase, NHEP, (603) 436-8043.