Mr. Ed Williamson

"You won't see that anymore," said CCA Alabama Executive Director Ed Williamson.

Williamson, University of Alabama professor Hobson Bryan, University of South Alabama Marine Sciences professor Bob Shipp and CCA Alabama Founder Manning McPhillips say they know why, too.
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"CCA stands alone in this," Williamson said."We're the only organization in Alabama dedicated strictly to the recreational [saltwater] angler."

Back in 1996, CCA sought gill net restrictions.It went into the fight under-funded and lacking political clout, Williamson said.CCA and the seafood industry reached a compromise, setting seasonal restrictions, limitations on where net fishermen could fish and a moratorium on new licenses.

"Ten years ago we made a compromise and it's not working," Williamson said.
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The localized decline in Spanish mackerel has been so sharp that the Alabama Fishing Rodeo is now excluding Spanish mackerel from competition, Williamson said.
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Out-of-state boats can fish with gill nets in Alabama waters as long as one of Alabama's licensed gill net fishermen is on the boat, Williamson said.

Charter fishermen report a fleet of 65 net boats coming every day from Florida.They come back loaded with fish, Williamson said.
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Recreational anglers could reap big rewards from a gill net ban, Williamson said.

I am, however, ashamed that our state still allows commercial gillnets to be used," said Ed Williamson, with the Coastal Conservation Association, the group that fought to ban nets last year.

For chapter information contact Ed Williamson, Executive Director, CCA Alabama, 251-478-3474.

- Ed WilliamsonExecutive Director CCA Alabama

Ed Williamson (Executive Director)

"We're anticipating a veto," Coastal Conservation Association of Alabama director Ed Williamson said Thursday.

Williamson and other opponents of the project have urged Riley to "err on the side of caution" in protecting sensitive gulf fisheries.

A Riley veto also is anticipated because he earlier supported Louisiana's governor, who blocked an offshore LNG project in that state with her veto.
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But Williamson said the project would affect the "chain of life in the gulf."

Mr. Ed Williamson

"We're anticipating a veto," Coastal Conservation Association of Alabama director Ed Williamson said Thursday.
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But Williamson said the project would affect the "chain of life in the gulf."

Ed WilliamsonExecutive Director

"Thanks to Ed Williamson and Williamson Cadillac / Hummer and Miami Saturn Retailers, the YMCA has been able to raise significant support that allows us to provide even more programs for kids and families in South Dade," says Dr. Thomas J. Den Boer, Executive Director of the South Dade and Southwest YMCAs.
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1. Dr. Thomas J. Den Boer, Executive Director, South Dade and Southwest YMCAs, with Ed Williamson of Williamson Cadillac / Hummer and Miami Saturn Retailers