February 12, 2015 — The following was released by the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers:
Alaska’s crab fishermen wish to once again thank Congressman Don Young for his refusal to stand idly by while pirates and international criminal conspiracies undercut Alaska’s commercial fishermen and their families. As co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus and a member of both the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Mr. Young has been a tireless champion of hardworking Alaskan fishermen who ask for nothing more than a level playing field when it comes to competition on the international market.
With the introduction of HR 774, The Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015, we are one step closer to achieving that level playing field. Building upon the effort led by Mr. Young during the 113th Congress, this bill has broad bi-partisan support and is the product of extensive negotiation and compromise between Republicans and Democrats. The legislation also enjoys tremendous support from a diverse range of stakeholders including commercial fishermen, Alaskan coastal communities, the law enforcement community, and conservation organizations.
We urge swift passage of this vital legislation in the House and encourage the Senate to pass a companion bill. While Congress delays, pirates continue to reap the illicit profits from trade in IUU fish and shellfish. A recent McDowell Group report estimated that 40% of the king crab on the world market comes from illegal Russian sources. Unfortunately this is not a new issue. According to a 2013 Wall Street Journal article, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sources estimate that illegal Russian crab has cost Alaskan crabbers $560 million since 2000. This translates to millions of dollars in lost tax revenue to Alaskan coastal communities. There is no reason why Alaskan crabbers and crab-dependent coastal communities should have to compete with Russian pirates. This bill is a major step in the right direction and we urge final passage without delay.