July 17, 2012 — Several members of Congress have asked the Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources to take legislative action on a number of fisheries management concerns. What is puzzling, and what should be extremely upsetting to fisheries interests – both commercial and recreational – in Virginia is that NO Virginia members of Congress signed the letter.
Several members of Congress have asked the Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources to take legislative action on a number of fisheries management concerns.
The nine delegates want chairman Doc Hastings to initiate several reforms prior to the next reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act – the law that governs fisheries management.
In a letter to Hastings, the nine delegates state: “As was clear at the hearing the Committee held last December, our fishermen continue to face economic hardships as a result of the drastic policies set forth in the current Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Management Act. We believe that this should not be the case. Fishermen have a vested interest in participating in the rebuilding and conservation of fish stocks, but doing so must not come at the expense of the livelihood of those fishermen. By making sensible reforms to current fisheries law, such as some of those suggested at last December’s hearing, fish stocks and the fishing industry can be rebuilt together.”
The letter continues by stating: “It is our understanding that, last month, members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard announce their intention to hold hearings to begin reforming the flawed policies of the (act). It is positive that the Senate also appears to be recognizing the urgency of enacting such reforms.”
The letter to Hastings is signed by John Tierney, William Keating and Barney Frank (three Democrats from Massachusetts), Timothy Bishop (D-New York), Frank Guinta (R-New Hampshire), Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey), and Lleana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida).
It also is signed by North Carolina Republican Walter Jones and North Carolina Democrat Mike McIntyre.
What is puzzling, and what should be extremely upsetting to fisheries interests – both commercial and recreational – in Virginia is that NO Virginia members of Congress signed the letter.
That should worry Virginia’s various user groups.
With elections set for a few months, it’s a great time to ask why.