Washington

June 4, 2015 — The House passed a spending bill yesterday that would make cuts to climate research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as prevent the agency from enforcing a short recreational season for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.

The $51.4 billion spending bill would fund the fiscal 2016 budgets for the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, NASA, the National Science Foundation and related agencies. NOAA — which is housed within Commerce — would get about $5.2 billion, a cut of more than $270 million to its current budget (Greenwire, May 19).

The House passed the bill 242-183, on a largely party-line vote. Twelve Democrats — Reps. Brad Ashford of Nebraska; Julia Brownley and Jim Costa of California; Cheri Bustos of Illinois; Henry Cuellar, Gene Green and Filemon Vela of Texas; Gwen Graham of Florida; Ann McLane Kuster of New Hampshire; Sean Maloney of New York; Collin Peterson of Minnestoa; and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona — joined most Republicans to pass H.R. 2578.

Lawmakers spent much of Tuesday and yesterday debating and voting on amendments. Several Democrats offered symbolic amendments — which they subsequently withdrew — restoring funds to NOAA’s climate research programs. The spending bill cuts such research by $30 million.

“This Congress has repeatedly affirmed that climate change is real. We may have different ideas about the causes of climate chance and certainly about what we can do to combat it,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). “It makes no sense to slash the very research which will enable us to find effective bipartisan solutions.”

Read the full story at E & E Daily

June 1, 2015 — The following was released by the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders Alliance:

“The defeat by withdrawal of the Graves amendment is a win for the millions of Americans who access Gulf red snapper through their favorite restaurants and seafood markets. This idea has been solidly defeated twice now so hopefully others will be discouraged from threatening the success of this sustainable fishery,” said Buddy Guindon, a commercial fisherman from Galveston, Texas.

“Twice now this threat to the sustainable commercial fishery has been rejected by the Republican majority in Congress. Now it is time to get back to business in the Gulf Council process by focusing on fixing broken recreational management without harming charter or commercial fishermen,” said Steve Tomeny, commercial and charter fisherman from Port Fourchon, Louisiana.

“Red snapper have made a huge comeback under federal management – in fact, quotas increased about 30 percent in 2015, the largest one-year quota increase ever. This is due to accountable commercial management and the conservation requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Magnuson is working to rebuild red snapper; we can’t afford to roll back conservation and sustainability measures like HR1335 is proposing to do,” said Jim Clements, commercial fisherman from Carrabelle, Florida.

Shareholders’ Alliance Statement – Graves Amendment to HR 1335

WASHINGTON: June 1, 2015 — The House Monday evening approved of a bill to reauthorize the nation’s principle marine fisheries management legislation, with Democrats and Republicans clashing over proposed changes to the 40-year-old law.

Republicans, who hold the majority, proposed amending the Magnuson-Stevens Act to give fisheries managers needed flexibility to maintain a healthy fish population while also taking into account the economic impact on fishing communities.

“The status quo is not working. Those in the industry recognize a need for change,” said Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee.

Democrats, who opposed the measure, argued that it would create loopholes in the law that could harm rebuilding efforts and included provisions that would undermine other environmental laws including the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, Antiquities Act and Endangered Species Act.

The bill was approved, 225 to 152, with only five Democrats in favor. The Senate has yet to consider legislation to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, had cleared the House Natural Resources Committee last month on a party-line vote. The Senate has yet to consider legislation to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Read the full story at CapeCod Times

June 1, 2015 — The following was released by The White House:

Presidential Proclamation– National Oceans Month, 2015

NATIONAL OCEANS MONTH, 2015

– – – – – – –

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

This summer, millions of Americans will take in the beauty and natural splendor of our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.  As destinations for recreation and tourism, these bodies of water rejuvenate our spirit and cultivate a love of our great outdoors.  And no matter where you live or who you are, a healthy and thriving ocean is essential to all people all year.  Our marine environments contribute to our food supply, bolster our economy, strengthen our national defense, and support important scientific research and innovation.  They are some of humanity’s greatest treasures and central to who we are as a people.  During National Oceans Month, we celebrate these lifesustaining ecosystems, and we reaffirm our vital role as stewards of our planet.

Ensuring the long-term health, resilience, and productivity of our marine environments requires us to act to protect and preserve them in the face of a range of threats.  Climate change is causing sea levels and ocean temperatures to rise, and these effects can harm coral reefs and force certain species to migrate.  Carbon pollution is being absorbed by our oceans, causing them to acidify and changing entire ecosystems.  And illegal fishing continues to threaten our global and economic security, as well as the sustainability of our world’s fisheries.

My Administration is committed to doing all we can to combat these threats and leave our children and grandchildren clean and vibrant oceans.  As part of my National Ocean Policy, we are creating a coordinated, science-based approach to managing our coasts and oceans, and we are focused on implementing specific, on-the-ground actions to improve our ocean economy and bolster ocean health.  We continue to make meaningful progress toward ending overfishing, and the Federal Government is partnering with State, local, and tribal leaders to promote marine conservation.  As President, I continue to use my authority to preserve our most precious ecosystems, including last year when I expanded the largest marine reserve in the world — ensuring more of our pristine tropical marine environments are off limits to commercial resource extraction.

We are heirs to a vast expanse of oceans and waterways that have sustained our ancestors for centuries.  As caretakers of our planet, we share an obligation to protect these magnificent ecosystems for generations to come.  This month, let us work to do our part and recommit to leading the way toward a safer, cleaner, more stable world.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2015 as National Oceans Month.  I call upon Americans to take action to protect, conserve, and restore our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

BARACK OBAMA

June 2, 2015 — WASHINGTON — The following was released by the office of Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC):

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1335 – the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act.  The bill would reauthorize and reform the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which is the law governing fisheries management in federal waters throughout the United States.  H.R. 1335 passed the House by a vote of 225 to 152.  The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

“Eastern North Carolina fishermen deserve the reforms this bill would provide,” said Congressman Jones.  “Fishermen have unnecessarily sacrificed for years because of flaws in the existing law.  If we can get more flexibility in rebuilding fisheries, and more transparency and accountability in management, everybody wins.  Fishing stocks get recovered, and the jobs and economic activity associated with fishing can be restored.”

Congressman Jones is the author of two of H.R. 1335’s core provisions to improve flexibility and transparency in fisheries management.  On flexibility, the bill included language Congressman Jones originally introduced in 2007 as H.R. 4087 – the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act.  That language would amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act to allow the 10-year time period for rebuilding fisheries to be extended under certain common-sense circumstances.  In allowing such flexibility, the bill would provide for timely restoration of healthy fisheries while also ensuring that fishermen are not put out of business because of the rigid timelines currently in the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

On transparency, the bill included language from legislation Congressman Jones originally introduced in 2011 as H.R. 2753 – the Fishery Management Transparency and Accountability Act.  That language would bring sunlight to the proceedings of federal fisheries managers by requiring federal Regional Fishery Management Councils to broadcast their meetings live over the Internet.  It would also require transcripts and video/audio recordings of council and Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) meetings to be made freely available to the public. Congressman Jones was alerted to the need for this language after hearing from fishermen who wanted to follow the councils’ proceedings but could not do so due to the time and expense involved with attending in person.

H.R. 1335 also includes language to rein in catch share programs on the Atlantic Coast.  Congressman Jones has championed this issue for many years through successful efforts to strip federal funding for new catch share programs, which destroy fishing jobs and communities.  The bill includes language that would require a majority of permit holders in a fishery to vote for a new program before it could be imposed by the National Marine Fisheries Service.  Fishermen in the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic regions do not currently have that right.

June 1, 2015 — WASHINGTON (AP) — Defying a White House veto threat, the Republican-controlled House on Monday approved a bill to give regional fisheries managers more power to set local fishing levels in federal waters.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, would remove a 10-year timeframe for rebuilding depleted fish stocks and allow fisheries managers to consider the economic needs of fishing communities in setting annual catch limits.

Republicans said the bill would added needed “flexibility” to the fisheries law while still protecting against overfishing. Democrats said it would roll back an important requirement that has ensured the recovery of many fish populations.

The House approved the bill, 225-152.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, called the vote “a win for the consumer, a win for the industry that puts food on our tables and restaurants, a win for the recreational fisherman, a win for better and more transparent science and a win for the American taxpayers.”

The bill would reauthorize the four-decade-old Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the top law regulating fishing in U.S. oceans, and give regional fisheries managers greater flexibility to shift catch totals as ocean conditions and science change.

Young said the bill was “written for fish and communities — not interest groups” and would ensure that “the needs of our fisheries resources are balanced with the needs of our fishermen and coastal communities.”

Read the full story at the Kansas City Star