b'C H A P T E R N I N EHook Fishermens Association, one of the first in a growing number of commercial fishing groups in the country with a strong commitment to guard the environment in order to preserve their industry.Today, CCCHFA has a membership of 1,628; some 900 of them live in Chatham and, of those, 130 fish for a living. As executive director, Parker has a staff of six (and one more, half-time) with a budget of $775,000 that comes from a diverse funding stream. Half of the total represents Federal Fisheries Research Grants; 20 percent is from national foundations, such as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Another 20 percent is brought in by local fundraising events; the Hookers Ball has aPaul Parker, executive Director of the playful part in contributing there. And,Cape Cod Commercial Hook finally, 10 percent is from membershipFishermens Association and a professional fisherman himself.He has built and local foundations. the organization into one with a staff of Recently, CCCHFA wrote ahalf a dozen, and a budget of $775,000.statement of purpose. The group wouldPhoto bj Barry Donahue.focus its efforts on campaigning for a healthy marine environment that supports a secure and viable future for sustainable commercial fisheries. We educate, support and empower the fishing industry and the public to effect policy changes that integrate environmental, social and economic issues. Among the associations core objectives:To build bridges of cooperation and understanding between fishermen, scientists, environmentalists, policy makers and the public, and To preserve a resource, tradition and way of life for commercial fishermen, their families and coastal communities.Once these objectives had been defined, partisans could see that CCCHFA had something in common with another young, vigorous, local organization, the Friends of Chatham Waterways. It was easy to spot their shared goals. FCWs mission statement committed it to preserving Chathams proud maritime heritage; what could be a more vital part of that tradition than the towns centuries of fishing? Then, too, the Friends dedicated its energies to serving as an information resource to the community on relevant issues. From the earliest,154'