WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — June 2, 2015 — Last night the U.S. House of Representatives approved, by a 225-152 vote, H.R. 1335, the “Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act,” a revision and reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (MSA). New England Democratic Congressmen Bill Keating (D-MA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), and Joe Courtney (D-CT) were among those who joined House Republicans in ultimately passing the bill.
Many in the commercial fishing industry support the legislation, authored by Chairman Don Young (R-AK), as it would provide more flexibility in stock rebuilding schedules as well as ease other regulatory burdens. The MSA is the primary federal law governing U.S. fisheries management.
Several key provisions of the of the bill that passed the House last night were authored by Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC). These include a provision that reforms the current 10 year stock rebuilding timeline to allow for more flexibility, as well as language that aims to make the management process more transparent by requiring the live broadcast of fishery management council meetings as well as making other materials publicly available.
The bill also included an amendment authored by Massachusetts Congressmen Keating, Lynch, and Moulton that would redirect the money in NOAA’s Asset Forfeiture Fund to pay for fisheries research, at-sea and shoreside monitoring costs, and other priorities to “rebuild or maintain sustainable fisheries, ensure healthy ecosystems, and maintain fishing communities.”
Yesterday’s vote has received much attention and press coverage. Below is a selection of links to news stories about the passage of the bill, as well as official statements from members of Congress.
Read more about the passage of H.R. 1335 at The Hill
Read a statement from the House Natural Resources Committee here
Read a statement from Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) here
Read a statement from Congressmen Moulton, Keating and Lynch here