November 16, 2013 — Finally, federal officials may be willing to consider socioeconomic impact as an issue in their decisions to manage fisheries in the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.
Thursday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard heard testimony relating to the upcoming re-authorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Management Act, the primary law governing marine fisheries management in the U.S. The current act expires at the end of fiscal year 2013.
Following a 2006 re-authorization, federal fishery councils have followed strict guidelines in efforts to rebuild more than 30 different fish stocks by establishing complete closures and seasonal limits, broader bag limits and other regulations. The closures for certain species, particularly red snapper, have created economic hardships in the commercial and recreational industries.
“We’ve established that the 2006 re-authorization is working for the fish, but what about the fishermen?” Ben C. Hartig, Chairman of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council was quoted as saying in a media release by the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA).
Hartig added, “Consideration of the human element of fisheries management has all but disappeared since the 2006 re-authorization and must be re-introduced back into the management process.”
In opening the hearing, the second in a series, subcommittee Chairman Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and ranking minority member Marco Rubio (R-FL) said there is a need for sensible reform by improving the balance of commerce and conservation in management.
Read the full opinion piece by Bill Sargent at Florida Today