May 15, 2015 — WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — May 15, 2015 — On April 30th, the House Natural Resources Committee reported out legislation introduced by Subcommittee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska). In a release, Chairman Young described the bill as intending to “strengthen and reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the primary law governing fisheries resources and fishing activities in the United States. H.R. 1335, the ‘Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act,‘ aims to improve federal fishery management in order to give Regional Fishery Management Councils the proper tools and flexibility necessary to effectively manage their fisheries.”
The Young bill has been largely supported by fishing industry interests and opposed by environmental groups. It is expected to be taken up by the House Rules Committee on Monday and could go to the floor next week.
Industry members who wish to support the bill may choose to sign onto a letter crafted by industry leaders that will be sent to House Natural Resources Committee chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) this weekend.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. If you wish to add your name to the letter, please sign before noon on Saturday. The letter is currently being circulated among various pro-industry groups.
View and sign the letter in support of Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization here
A partial list of organizations that have have already signed the letter include:
West Coast Seafood Processors Association
Directed Sustainable Fisheries, Inc.
Fish-Net USA
Garden State Seafood Association
Lund’s Fisheries, Inc.
Cape Trawlers Inc.
Cape Clam, Inc.
Lund Marr Trawlers LLC
Mt Vernon LLC
Scombrus One LLC
Western Explorer LLC
Elite G LLC
Nancy Elizabeth LLC
Loper Bright Enterprises LLC
Sun Coast Calamari LLC
Pt. Hueneme Ice LLC
WIFTEK LLC
Golden Nugget LLC
Long Island Commercial Fishing Association
Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Southern Offshore Fishing Association
Pacific Seafood Processors Association
Washington Trollers Association
Saving Seafood has previously covered the ongoing developments in the Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization process. Links to selected stories are included below.
DON YOUNG: Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Moves Forward (March 17, 2015)
U.S. House Panel Advances Fisheries Law (April 30, 2015)
Seafood Coalition Opposes Changes to Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper (May 1, 2015)
JIM ODLIN: Flexibility Much Needed in Magnuson, and Will Not Harm Stock Rebuilding (May 13, 2015)