H.R. No. 895
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Long before environmental concerns were at the
    1-2  forefront of the American consciousness, the members of the Gulf
    1-3  Coast Conservation Association were working to preserve the
    1-4  delicate balance of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, Renowned as one of the great sportfishing sites in
    1-6  the country, the Gulf of Mexico is home to large trout and redfish
    1-7  populations, but by the late 1960s and early 1970s, sport fishermen
    1-8  were noticing a precipitous decline in the number of redfish in the
    1-9  shallow waters of Laguna Madre; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, The illegal commercial harvesting of these and other
   1-11  finfish, as well as questionable practices such as trawling during
   1-12  extremely cold weather and trot line fishing, was endangering the
   1-13  once abundant supplies of redfish and trout in these fertile
   1-14  waters; at one point, more than 221,000 pounds of trout were
   1-15  harvested from Galveston Bay in a single month, and sport fishermen
   1-16  along the Gulf Coast realized that only immediate action could halt
   1-17  the decline; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, In February 1977, a group of concerned sportsmen
   1-19  established the Gulf Coast Conservation Association (GCCA) in
   1-20  Houston, and within two years local chapters of the organization
   1-21  were being formed in other cities along the Gulf Coast; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, The "founding fathers" of this organization came
   1-23  from all walks of life, but they were united in their belief that
   1-24  the rich natural resources of the Gulf of Mexico should be
    2-1  preserved for the enjoyment of all Texans; these doctors, salesmen,
    2-2  investors, engineers, and businessmen joined forces with game
    2-3  wardens and biologists from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
    2-4  to halt the illegal harvesting of finfish; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Although they mainly focused on public education,
    2-6  legislation, and stricter law enforcement, these devoted
    2-7  conservationists were not above exercising their rights to make
    2-8  citizen's arrests, occasionally bringing in poachers at gunpoint;
    2-9  during the succeeding years of "net wars," sport fishermen's cabins
   2-10  were burned and GCCA facilities were vandalized in retaliation, but
   2-11  the organization continued to push for stricter legislation to
   2-12  protect the Gulf's supply of game fish; and
   2-13        WHEREAS, Moreover, the organization established the John
   2-14  Wilson Fish Hatchery and GCCA/CP&L Marine Development Center to
   2-15  restock the depleted waters and help restore the finfish
   2-16  populations to their previous numbers; and
   2-17        WHEREAS, The Gulf Coast Conservation Association is a shining
   2-18  example of the public good that can be achieved when concerned
   2-19  citizens, governmental agencies, and law enforcement officials work
   2-20  together toward a common goal; thanks to the concerted efforts of
   2-21  the GCCA and its allies, all Texans will be able to enjoy the rich
   2-22  fishing waters of the Gulf of Mexico for many generations to come;
   2-23  now, therefore, be it
   2-24        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-25  Legislature hereby commend the members of the Gulf Coast
   2-26  Conservation Association for their efforts to preserve the redfish
   2-27  and trout populations of the Gulf of Mexico and extend to them
    3-1  warmest best wishes for continued success; and, be it further
    3-2        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-3  prepared for the Gulf Coast Conservation Association as an
    3-4  expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.