I think this is a worthy cause so check it out! From 2cool the fishing forum

First Ever Clean Shores Event- please read
This is a repeat from a post I put up on TTMB over 12-hours ago, with less than 75 views and not a single comment. I should have mentioned something about pizza or the weather instead of the enviroment- fishing or like post get more than four times the hits over here.Almost a year ago I rallied for support for the same issue http://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum/showthread.php?t=180588 and realized then that much more organization was needed. Well here it is, thanks for checking it out!For years and especially post hurricane IKE I've been looking at the trash and refuse that has collected on the shorelines of our Texas shorelines. I feel like the Indian chief "Iron Eyes Cody" from that 70's era pollution commercial, with tears filling my eyes as I've run parallel to our shorelines. I am sick and tired of seeing it, all of it- five-gallon buckets, aluminum cans, plastic lawn chairs, laundry baskets, plastic bags, styrofoam cups, rope...etc. You get the picture and likely way too clear if you have been on the water in any of the bays here in Texas.I've decided to do something about it by founding Clean Shores, a grass roots organization backed by like minded environmentally conscious anglers of our Lone Star State. Our goal will be to rid the shorelines of refuse through voluntary bi-annual cleanup efforts, scheduled cleaning, seasonal shoreline conditioning and by providing public education for preventative measures.The organization is in it's infancy, a website URL has been reserved (www.cleanshores.org) and the first ever cleanup is planned this month in Port O'Connor on Saturday September 26th. A board of directors have been put into place, steps to incorporate into a 501(c)(3) organization have been made and some funds have already been donated by concerned sportsman.Our plan is to provide written material outlining our mission/cleanup effort and a plastic refuse bag to each boater launching from the chosen boat ramps. Our goal is to load flat bed trailers with the refuse collected by the boaters and dispose of the waste properly.All of the boat ramp owners/managers gave us a big thumbs up, several flat bed trailers have been made available and volunteers to man the boat ramps have been put into place. My boat and at least two others will be concentrating on the Mitchell's Cut and Saluria Bayou shorelines. If you are available on that day your efforts will be greatly appreciated.Additional monetary donations are needed to offset expenses of trash bags, refreshments for participants and the costs associated with disposal of the trash. Any unused funds received will be deposited into the Clean Shores bank account for use during our next round of cleanups being planned for March 27th. Hopefully with more participation other ports and coastal communities on the Texas coast will benefit from our efforts.Donations can be made directly through PayPal (use captlowtide@airmail.net for now) or by pledging an amount for every 100 pounds of trash removed and hauled to the landfill. I already have had interest in pledges from 25 cents up to $1.00 per hundred, any donation will be greatly appreciated.Feel free to contact me via email, PM or by cell phone at 361-564-7032 with any questions or comments. Looking forward to cleaning up and making a difference- Curtiss Date- Saturday September 26thTime- 6:00 am until 5:00 pmPlace- Froggie's Bait Dock, The Fishing Center and Clark's Marina
__________________Make a difference- Donate a day for the bay

USMSA Information you may want to read

United States Marine Safety Association
Your International Resource for Marine Safety ********************************************************************
Coast Guard Authorization Bill 2010
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 has been introduced by RepresentativeOberstar (H.R. 3619) to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard forfiscal year 2010, and for other purposes.It once again calls for revocation of the approval of survival craft that donot keep the occupants out of the water. USMSA members may take pride in theyears of hard work by our members on this issue and the efforts of thoseserving on the Small Passenger Vessel Initiative committee for continuing topromote and further this initiative.
USMSA will continue to work on this important issue. We encourage members to get involved.The act also contains many of the same initiatives previously contained inHR 2652 (see June 4, 2009 eblast below)H.R. 3619
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USMSA News Flash! H.R. 2652 - A Bill Concerning Marine Safety Issues6/4/2009
United States Marine Safety Association
Your International Resource for Marine Safety ********************************************************************
New Marine Safety Bill ~ H.R. 2652A new bill has just been introduced in the US House of Representatives to amend title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations concerning a variety of marine safety issues. Some of the proposals addressed in this bill were previously contained in last year's Coast Guard Authorization bill, which was not passed. Among the issues of interest to our industry: - Fishing vessel safety - Unsafe operation and termination of voyage - Equipment approval - Survival Craft - revokes approval of survival craft that do not ensure that no part of an individual is immersed in water - Merchant mariner licensing - Blended fuels in marine applicationsYou are encouraged to download and review the portions of this bill that are of interest to you and your business. We will need your insight and comments as we develop our positions on these issues. More information to follow after we have had the opportunity to review this further.HR2652

Free PLB for the 8 day survivor!

After surviving 8 days in the Gulf of Mexico floating on a capsized catamaran James Phillips has a lot to smile about. Saturday with the help of our friends at Revere Supply Company, Triad Marine gave him one more reason to smile. Pictured above Mike Goforth presented James with a FREE McMurdo Fastfind 210 PLB. We were so thrilled to meet and talk with James and we hope he enjoys many more years of fishing. Now armed with his new PLB he can fish with a peace of mind that should the unthinkable happen he has a great weapon of defense.

We enjoyed our visit with James, his wife and some of their friends, we talked safety and also about their amazing tale of survival. He is even asking his wife for a ditch bag for Christmas and she seems plenty happy to get it for him. Go catch the big one James and may the rest of you tales about the sea be happy ones!