Washington

WASHINGTON — November 15, 2013 — The following was released by the office of Congressman Frank LoBiondo:

U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02), a senior member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, has introduced a permanent moratorium from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state regulations and fines governing incidental discharges from commercial fishing vessels and all other commercial vessels less than 79 feet. The “Commercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2013” is the latest effort by LoBiondo to protect South Jersey’s critical commercial fishing industry.

“Starting in December 2014, commercial fishermen, charter and tour boat operators, and owners of other commercial vessels less than 79 feet will have to apply for and receive individual permits from the EPA to discharge from their vessels such things as deck wash, bilge water, and the condensation from air conditioning units. Vessels that operate without these permits could be subject to citizen lawsuits and daily fines that exceed $32,000 per violation. Furthermore, the EPA has informed Congress that they do not have the resources to process more than 135,000 permits that would be required,” said LoBiondo. “With our stagnant economy, the government must not enact federal penalties which could discourage economic growth and job creation. The fines that are scheduled to be levied against our commercial fishermen for incidental charges will be devastating to local South Jersey businesses.”

In 2006, a federal court in California ruled that the EPA had to regulate the release of ballast water, bilge water, deck wash, rain water runoff and other incidental discharges from vessels under the Clean Water Act. Two (2) federal agencies and over 28 states have added additional and often contradictory regulations on top of the federal standard.

"This is welcome news to our party, charter boat and private fleets. Frank has fought off the demons every time this issue came up. Now let’s hope we can make this permanent and we can carry on our day to day activities without this burden,” Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance.

While chair of the House Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, LoBiondo secured the current temporary moratorium expiring in December 2014 in the hopes of brokering a permanent solution to establish a single, nationwide standard for ballast water and incidental discharges. Recognizing current political realities, LoBiondo is seeking a permanent moratorium to this issue. Commercial vessels (except fishing) over 79 feet will still need to comply with the EPA standards and all recreational vessels, regardless of size, are permanently exempt from the regulations.

“South Jersey has the second biggest fishing port on the East Coast with the Port of Cape May. In fact, it is the fourth in the nation, landing over 11 million pounds of seafood worth tens of millions of dollars annually. This industry supports thousands of jobs up and down the Jersey Shore, but like all industry, this one has had stiff challenges as its weathered the storm of the recent recession,” continued LoBiondo. “Congress must not allow EPA and the states to threaten fishermen with tens of thousands in daily fines if they fail to abide control rain water runoff from their decks and condensation from cabin air conditioners.”

According to Jeff Reichle, president of Lund's Fisheries in Cape May, “this legislation is tremendously important to commercial fishermen in New Jersey and all other coastal states, making permanent an exemption from a regulation that would have crippled our fishing industries. Congressman LoBiondo has once again earned the thanks of all of us whose businesses depend on the reasonable regulation of vessels using our coastal waters. We hope other coastal legislators will join Congressman LoBiondo in supporting this vital moratorium.”

“This is tremendously important for the town of Barnegat Light and our fishermen. I appreciate and thank Frank for his common-sense approach on this and other issues that are important to our fishermen. It's the right thing to do, and I'd like everyone to support Frank in these efforts,” said Kirk Larson, Mayor of Barnegat Light.

The “Commercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2013” (H.R. 3464) has been assigned to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for review.

Read the release here

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — November 14, 2013 — Republicans joined Democrats Thursday in pressuring congressional leadership to preserve $150 million in fisheries disaster relief in New England and elsewhere.

Thirty-seven senators and representatives joined Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., in a letter on behalf of an appropriations bill making its way through Congress that asks that the fisheries disaster relief be included in any compromise bill between the two chambers.

The secretary of commerce declared an economic emergency in commercial fishing 14 months ago, but so far there is nothing to show for it. The emergency is the result of sharp quota cutbacks ordered by NOAA Fisheries to try to restore fish populations.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) November 13, 2013 — A bipartisan group of 38 lawmakers representing fishing communities from 10 states sent a letter today urging Congressional leadership to include fishery disaster relief in any final funding package for 2014. The letter aims to ensure that $150 million for collapsed fisheries is soon made accessible to those in need of assistance. The money was previously allocated by the Senate Appropriations Committee in the 2014 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill but has not been enacted into law.

The letter states, “Since 2012, the Department of Commerce declared a number of fishery failures in the United States. Regrettably funding has not been appropriated yet to deal with the effects of these disasters, which continue to affect communities in our states and districts.”

The relief funding would help support several struggling fisheries across the United States. The Alaska chinook salmon fishery, Mississippi oyster and blue crab fishery, Northeast groundfish fishery, Florida oyster fishery, and fisheries impacted by Superstorm Sandy have all been declared disasters by the Department of Commerce and require federal support.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren signed the letter in support of communities that have been struck particularly hard by mismanagement of the New England groundfish fishery. Commenting on the effort Senator Warren said, “It’s not a disaster because the fishermen did anything wrong. It’s a disaster because they followed exactly what the government asked them to do.”

In the letter, lawmakers emphasized the importance of this aid. “For the communities they affect, fisheries disasters are as devastating as other federally-declared disasters… These funds could be used in a variety of ways to provide fishermen vital help including support for emergency financial assistance, operational costs where necessary, economic development programs, and science initiatives to manage the fishery in a timely way that gives confidence to all stakeholders.”

Read the letter from 38 lawmakers to eight Congressional leaders

 

WASHINGTON — November 12, 2013 — West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller, in a letter to NOAA Acting Administrator Kathryn Sullivan, has criticized a proposed rule from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that would invalidate several state laws banning the possession or sale of shark fins. According to Sen. Rockefeller, NMFS's proposal results from "interpreting the Shark Conservation Act in a way that is contrary to the intent of Congress."

The Act, passed in 2010 as an amendment to the Magunson-Stevens Act governing fisheries management, enhances federal efforts against illegal shark finning, a practice where a shark's fin is removed while the shark is returned to the ocean, either already dead or to die shortly thereafter. Shark fins are still allowed to legally be sold under this law, but only if the entire shark is landed as well. According to NMFS, efforts by states like Hawaii and California that would ban the sale of otherwise-legal shark fins is inconsistent with both the Shark Conservation Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and would be preempted by federal law.

In his letter, Sen. Rockefeller counters that the state laws are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act definitions of "conservation and management," particular in allowing for measures "which are required to rebuild, restore, or maintain, and which are useful in rebuilding, restoring, or maintaining, any fishery resource and the marine environment." According to Sen. Rockefeller, these laws meet that criteria because they "promote the return of sharks as a keystone species in ocean ecosystem." Sen. Rockefeller also argues that the Magnuson-Stevens Act does not prevent states from passing their own regulations governing their own waters, citing language stating "nothing in this Act shall be construed as extending or diminishing the jurisdiction or authority of any State within its boundaries." Because of this, Sen. Rockefeller states that NMFS should not allow the state anti-shark finning laws to be preempted by federal law.

Read the letter from Sen. Rockefeller here

 

WASHINGTON — November 5, 2013 — A new report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Banking On Nature: The Economic Benefits to Local Communities of National Wildlife Refuge Visitation, shows that for every $1 appropriated by Congress to run the Refuge System, nearly $5 is generated in local economies. Despite the fact that the Refuge System has seen a significant increase in visitation, it has faced severe funding cuts. As Congress considers the budget bills for Fiscal Year 2014, the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) calls upon the House of Representatives and the Senate to fund the Refuge System at $499 million this year.

"As hunters, anglers, bird and wildlife watchers, scientists, conservationists and concerned Americans, we know the National Wildlife Refuge System has always been a worthy investment," said David Houghton, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association and Chair of the CARE coalition. "Now the data proves it – refuges provide an enormous bang for the American buck."

The report, spanning 2006-2011, shows that even during the worst recession since the Great Depression, the overall return on investment increased substantially for the Refuge System as well as every other major indicator. From 2006-2011 the Refuge System saw the following annual increases:

· 20% increase in sales and economic output to $2.4 billion;

· 30% increase in visitors to 46.5 million;

· 22% increase in return on investment for every $1 appropriated to $4.87;

· 23% increase in jobs to 35,000.

Read the full story at Yuba Net 

November 5, 2013 — Sen. Charles Schumer Monday fired another salvo in the battle against New York's disproportionately small share of the federal fluke fishery with proposed legislation that he said would "end the unfairness."

Surrounded by boat captains and advocates at the Captree State Park fishing dock, Schumer vowed to push a bill through Congress that would do away with what he said was the faulty data and uneven quota system on which New York's small share is based. And he said he would use his connections and clout in Congress to see to it.

"I've got a lot of friends in the Senate, I've got a lot of clout in the Senate," he said. "I will use it."

The so-called Fluke Fairness Act would require that federal fisheries managers use up-to-date research and data to set quotas, which now limit New York's share of the commercial fishery to 7.6 percent of the federal allotment. States such as North Carolina and Virginia get more than 20 percent. Out-of-state boats fishing in New York-area waters can sometimes take thousands of pounds of fluke, but must steam to home ports to unload their catch.

Read the full story from Newsday

November 5, 2013 — Senator Elizabeth Warren is joining other Massachusetts elected officials in pressing for more relief for the state’s fishing industry, which she said has been harmed by catch limits imposed by the federal government.

‘It’s not a disaster because the fishermen did anything wrong,’’ Warren said. “It’s a disaster because they followed exactly what the government asked them to do.’’

Warren also said she is not comfortable with the science the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has relied on to set catch limits.

Warren made her comments following a hearing at the State House on Monday. She was joined by fellow Senator Edward J. Markey, other elected officials, and industry representatives.

New England fishermen said the industry faces collapse because of the limits, which reduce the cod catch to just a fraction of its historical totals.

Read the full story at The Boston Globe

 

GLOUCESTER, Mass., — November 1, 2013 — The following was released by the Northeast Seafood Coalition:

Today, the Northeast Seafood Coalition (NSC) expresses sincere appreciation to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for filing a notice of an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for Essex, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk counties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Hillsborough and Rockingham counties in the State of New Hampshire.

This declaration makes it possible for small groundfish businesses to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans, or working capital loans to help small businesses to meet their “ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist businesses through the disaster recovery period,” according to the SBA EIDL Fact Sheet released today.

SBA assistance is one source of support NSC has been engaged in to help the Northeast groundfish fishery during this time of crisis. NSC is hopeful that SBA's disaster assistance programs will add an important component to a larger need for direct financial assistance including the Fisheries Disaster Mitigation Fund approved in July by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

NSC initiated this process in March 2013 with a request for assistance from Massachusetts U.S. Sen. William “Mo” Cowan, who was a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. At Sen. Cowan’s request, Gov. Deval Patrick’s office put the SBA process into full swing. NSC and Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership worked with affected fishermen across coastal counties in Massachusetts to collect the financial impact information required to support the Governor’s certification.

NSC is thankful to U.S. SBA, Gov. Patrick and his office, former Sen. Cowan and his office, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, and the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership for their work to assist in providing the groundfish fishery in Massachusetts with critically needed federal assistance. NSC is also grateful to our members who provided economic injury data to make this SBA program available for the fishery. In the coming days, NSC will continue to work with other Northeast states in which our members reside to help certify economic injury and gain access to SBA assistance.

Read a PDF version of the NSC press release

View the SBA Fact Sheet regarding Economic Industry and Disaster Loans

View the SBA Notice of an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

 

 

SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [Seafoodnews.com] — October 31, 2013 — Confirming Alaska's role as the nation's top seafood producer, U.S. Senator Mark Begich welcomed news today from the annual Fisheries of the United States publication that reports a record-breaking year for Alaska fishermen.

"Alaska fishermen continued to top the charts by landing over 5.3 billion pounds of seafood in 2012," said Sen. Begich. "That's 55.5 percent of the nation's seafood production and worth $1.7 billion to fishermen. With this year's record harvest of over a billion pounds of salmon, Alaska is bound to be in the lead next year too. These statistics just confirm that Alaska is still a world leader in effective, sustainable fisheries management."

Details of the 2012 fisheries are included in the annual publication Fisheries of the United States 2012, released today by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Service (NOAA). The publication notes that Alaska's production is down slightly from the previous year from 5.35 billion pounds in 2011 to 5.34 billion pounds in 2012.

Unalaska-Dutch Harbor led the nation with 752 million pounds of seafood and ranked second in the nation in terms of value with production worth $214 million to the fleet, trailing only New Bedford's lucrative scallop fishery. Other Alaska ports on the value charts included Kodiak, the Aleutians, the Alaska Peninsula, Bristol Bay, Naknek, Sitka, Seward and Ketchikan.

"The list of the nation's top ports follows the Alaska coastline, reminding us of the productivity and vitality of the fishing sector in our economy," Sen. Begich said. "Add to that our record of sustainability and quality and it is clear that Alaska fisheries are special, not just in the nation but in the world."

Senator Begish chairs the Senate subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries.  He notes work is underway on reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Act, the Alaska-inspired centerpiece of successful fisheries management. Under his leadership the committee is also addressing illegal pirate fisheries on the high seas, visas for seafood processing workers, and ways to improve fisheries observer coverage including electronic monitoring.

This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

October 29, 2013 — The following was released by by NOAA:

To prevent a severe disruption in the commercial groundfish fishery, today NOAA Fisheries announced that we are extending interim management measures through April 30, 2014, which were set to expire on October 30, 2013. These measures include revised catch limits for the 2013 fishing year for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder and white hake and limits on the amount of unused 2012 quota that can be carried over into the current fishing year for Gulf of Maine cod. All of these measures were implemented through an emergency action in early May.

Click here to read the Temporary Rule from NOAA.