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About VCBA
The Virginia Charter Boat Association is a state-wide organization of U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captains.
"We are headed for greater and better endeavors due to the efforts of all of our members working together to ensure the future of your livelihood."
Are you a licensed Captain? If so, are you a member of the Virginia Charter Boat Association? If you are a licensed captain and not a member, you should seriously consider joining! As a member you will receive many benefits. Benefits include free advertising, national and state recognition within the industry, camaraderie with others in your field, as well as a better understanding of the how's and why's of new regulations.
Virginia Charter Boat Association is a state organization of charter boat operators. We are organized into 5 geographic zones that make up our organization. If you fish in one of these zones, then you need to be a part of our association! Our zones are: Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, Lower Peninsula, Tidewater, and the Eastern Shore. VCBA brings together captains from all regions of the state to work together to promote fishing and fishing interests for our industry. Our membership averages over 100 members yearly.
We publish a membership roster brochure with a list of captains names, phone numbers, boat names, number of passengers, and home port for all of our members at the beginning of each year. This means free advertising for you! Our web site advertises the membership list with links to their individual web sites and e-mail addresses. Our brochure and our site are categorized by zones and provide information on our association. The web site includes current VCBA news and information on seasonal changes, limits, and new regulations.
We are recognized nationally by the National Association of Charterboat Operators (NACO) and the U.S. Coast Guard, and statewide by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Virginia Tourism Corporation, as well as several state publications, fishing magazines, and individual regional tourism commissions. Our VCBA dues make you a member of NACO. With this you will receive newsletters from NACO meetings, and it enables you to enroll with Charter Lakes Insurance Agency for a better rate on coverage for your vessel. At the national level, we have a lobbyist working for us to protect our interests and promote the industry. Our association even holds a seat on the Board of Directors for NACO.
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Our VCBA presence is requested at important Chesapeake Bay and East Coast fishing industry meetings. We carry influence within the state of Virginia and the Eastern seaboard concerning fishing regulations. We have several members that hold positions on various committees concerning fish management within other organizations. In addition, you will have a better understanding of U.S. Coast Guard regulations, which is particularly important if you run a Coast Guard Inspected Vessel. You will be informed of new laws, requirements, and procedures.
We frequently bring in guest speakers to keep our members abreast of current issues within our industry. These speakers range from VMRC leaders, VIMS representatives, NOAA representatives, Coast Guard Officers, commercial product specialists to communication experts dealing with electronics and technology used in today's fishing industry.
VCBA has many committees that work on issues such as marketing, medical coverage, liability insurance, public relations, regulation updates, reef proposals/management, and new membership. Our organization has been around for a long time, and we are headed for greater and better endeavors due to the efforts of all of our members working together to ensure the future of your livelihood. VCBA dues are $60.00 per year which also includes your membership in the National Association of Charterboat Operators (NACO). See the NACO link (NACO) to learn about the additional benefits you are eligible from the national organization. You can get a membership application from this web, our secretary, or from any captain in good standing.
We normally meet monthly at Nick's Seafood and Spaghetti House on Route 17 in Gloucester Point. There are occasions when we meet at a guest location outside of Gloucester. Our meetings are always the third Monday of the month, except during summer months. Protect Your Future!!! Join VCBA now and become part of a team that works together to support collective interests. For more information on joining
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