As the new home of MASSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Massachusetts can be contacted regarding this news release.
Environmental Group Urges Congressional Delegation to Support Critical Oceans Bill
Representative
Nick Rahall (D-WV), ranking member of the U.S. House Resources
Committee, was joined by 5 bipartisan cosponsors today in introducing
legislation that will enhance fisheries science and management in order
to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine fish and ocean
ecosystems.
The
Fisheries Science and Management Enhancement Act of 2005 embodies many
of the recommendations issued last fall by the presidentially appointed
U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP). Key provisions of the bill
will:
•
Require the Fishery Management Councils or FMCs (the bodies in charge
of managing regional fisheries) to restore our fisheries to health by
adhering to sustainable catch levels set by scientists.
•
Address the exemption from financial conflicts of interest that is
unique to FMCs by prohibiting Council members from voting on issues in
which they have a financial interest.
•
Broaden the membership of the regional councils to provide equal
representation between commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen and
members of the public knowledgeable in marine fisheries. The current
makeup of appointed Council members is such that eighty to ninety
percent of the Councils represent fishing interests.
•
Establish a cooperative research program with collaboration between
fishermen and researchers in order to more fully understand fishing’s
impacts on marine resources and wildlife.
Since
the passage of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, the law that established the council management system, fish
populations have rapidly declined. In fact, between 1980 and 2001, New
England’s catch of haddock has fallen by 77 percent, our catch of cod
by 71 percent, and of Atlantic halibut by 87 percent. Fish stocks can
take years, even decades to recover and some may never return to
sustainable levels. We must take action now to reverse the rapid
decline of our greatest public resource.
“This
bill is the overdue prescription to our ailing oceans and fisheries
need,” said Jen Baker, MASSPIRG’s Environmental Associate. “President
Bush’s own experts have recognized that our oceans are in trouble and
Congressman Rahall’s bold legislation is a great first step toward
addressing many of the problems plaguing how we manage our incredibly
valuable marine ecosystems.”
The
Rahall legislation uses science to better inform fishery management
decisions; broadens participation on the fishery management councils to
include the public interest, to significantly reduce financial
conflicts of interest of those on the councils; and expands cooperative
research to increase our knowledge of oceans and their wildlife.
“Although
69 Congressmen signed on to this last session, none of the
Massachusetts delegation was on the bill. It is critical we protect our
failing oceans and this bill does that. I hope our Congressional
delegation will join us in this effort to safeguard our environment,”
said Baker.
