Washington

WASHINGTON — June 21, 2013 — An amendment submitted by Congressman John Tierney to give commercial fishermen access to a U.S. Agriculture emergency disaster loan program had died in the U.S. House, though Tierney hopes it may still find sufficient support through a House-Senate reconciliation.

Tierney’s amendment, tacked onto the proposed Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act — better known as the FARRM Bill — was aimed at making commercial fishermen eligible for the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Disaster Loan program, but went down on a vote of 211-215.

“Despite convincing 23 Republicans to vote in support of my amendment, we ran up against the real consequences of the Ryan Republican budget and sequestration,” said Tierney, whose district includes Gloucester and all of Cape Ann. “With deep cuts to federal programs being implemented, many Republicans are refusing to both restore funding for them and give our struggling commercial fishermen the same opportunity to apply for emergency disaster loans as farmers and ranchers.

“Fortunately, a similar amendment, introduced by Senator Cowan, was included in the Senate’s version of the farm bill, and with this close vote in the House, I am hopeful it will be retained in the House and Senate conference report,” Tierney said.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

WASHINGTON — June 20, 2013 — The following was released by the office of Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney:

Congressman John Tierney’s proposed amendment to the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act to make commercial fishermen eligible for the U.S Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Emergency Disaster Loan program was narrowly defeated today. The final vote tally was 211 to 215.
 
“Despite convincing 23 Republicans to vote in support of my amendment, we ran up against the real consequences of the Ryan Republican Budget and Sequestration. With deep cuts to federal programs being implemented, many Republicans are refusing to both restore funding for them and give our struggling commercial fishermen the same opportunity to apply for emergency disaster loans as farmers and ranchers. Fortunately, a similar amendment, introduced by Senator Cowan, was included in the Senate’s version of the farm bill, and with this close vote in the House, I am hopeful it will be retained in the House and Senate conference report,” Tierney said.
 
“The defeat of this small but important amendment also shows how difficult it will be to make progress on providing urgently needed financial assistance for the fishing industry and responsibly reforming the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Yet, my like-minded colleagues from both parties and I will not be deterred. Even in the face of significant opposition by many House Republicans, we will keep fighting for our fishermen and their families,” Tierney concluded.
 
Quite simply, the Tierney amendment would have amended the USDA’s Emergency Disaster Loan program to allow commercial fishermen to apply. The amendment would not have prioritized fishermen over farmers or ranchers or anyone else who is currently eligible for the USDA’s program. It only sought to give fishermen a fair shot at obtaining an emergency loan.
 
Congressman Tierney spoke on the House Floor in support of his amendment late last night.

 

 

WASHINGTON — 20 June 2013 — The Commerce Department today announced the appointment of 20 new and returning members to the eight regional fishery management councils that partner with NOAA Fisheries to manage ocean fish stocks. The new and reappointed council members begin their three-year terms on August 11.

The councils were established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prepare fishery management plans for marine fish stocks in their regions. NOAA Fisheries works closely with the councils as plans are developed, and then reviews, approves and implements the fishery management plans. Council members represent diverse groups, including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental interests and academia, and carry out the act’s requirements to end overfishing, rebuild fish stocks, and manage them sustainably.

“We are looking forward to working with our new and returning council members,” said Sam Rauch, acting NOAA assistant administrator for fisheries.” With annual catch limits in place for all federally managed species and 32 stocks rebuilt since 2000, collaboration between NOAA and the councils is more important than ever in order to continue this positive momentum.”

Each year, approximately one-third of the total 72 appointed members to the eight regional councils are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. The Secretary selects members from nominations submitted by the governors of fishing states, territories and tribal governments.

Council members are appointed to both obligatory (state-specific) and at-large (regional) seats. Council members serve a three-year term and can be reappointed to serve three consecutive terms.

New England Council

The New England Council includes members from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The appointees for 2013 fill an obligatory seat for New Hampshire and two at-large seats.

Obligatory seat:

Ellen D. Goethel (New Hampshire)

At-large seats:

Michael P. Sissenwine (Massachusetts)

*Francis “Frank” W. Blount, Jr. (Rhode Island)

Mid-Atlantic Council

The Mid-Atlantic Council includes members from the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The appointees for 2013 fill an obligatory seat for Delaware and three at-large seats.

Obligatory seat:

*Lee G. Anderson (Delaware)

At-large seats:

*Richard “Rick” B. Robins, Jr. (Virginia)

*Stephen E. Linhard (Maryland)

Jeffery “Jeff” H. Kaelin (New Jersey)

South Atlantic Council

The South Atlantic Council includes members from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The appointees for 2013 fill obligatory seats for North Carolina and South Carolina.

Obligatory seats:

Jack H. Cox, Jr. (North Carolina)

Christopher “Chris” C. Conklin (South Carolina)

Caribbean Council

The Caribbean Council includes members from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The appointee for 2013 fills an at large seat.

At-large seat:

Louis A. “Tony” Blanchard (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Gulf Council

The Gulf Council includes members from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The appointees for 2013 fill obligatory seats for Texas and Mississippi and one at-large seat.

Obligatory seats:

*Douglass “Doug” W. Boyd (Texas)

Leann N. Bosarge (Mississippi)

At-large seat:

Roy O. Williams (Florida)

Pacific Council

The Pacific Council includes members from California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The appointees for 2013 fill an obligatory seat for Idaho and one at-large seat.

Obligatory seat:

*Herbert “Herb” A. Pollard, II (Idaho)

At-large seat:

*Danny “Dan” L. Wolford (California)

North Pacific Council

The North Pacific Council includes members from Alaska and Washington. The appointees for 2013 fill obligatory seats for Alaska.

Obligatory seats:

*Duncan S. Fields (Alaska)

David B. Long (Alaska)

Western Pacific Council

The Western Pacific Council includes members from American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. There is one appointee filling an obligatory seat for American Samoa that has been vacant since 2012 and two appointees for 2013 filling two at-large seats.

Obligatory seat:

**Claire T. Poumele (American Samoa)

At-large seats:

*William A. Sword (American Samoa)

*Julie A. K. Leialoha (Hawaii)

*Reappointment

**This appointment fills the 2012 vacant seat and expires in 2015.

 View the PDF version released by NOAA Fisheries 

 

BOSTON– June 20, 2013 — The winner of the special election for U.S. Senate faces the tough work of representing a diminished and dispirited Massachusetts fishing fleet in the midst of an industry crisis.

Republican businessman Gabriel Gomez and Democrat U.S. Rep. Edward Markey both say they'll be the better friend to fishermen. But both have backgrounds that give fishermen cause for skepticism.

Gomez is a political newcomer and admittedly unfamiliar with the industry. Markey is a favorite of environmental groups that have pushed policies to conserve fish that fishermen say have destroyed their businesses.

Read the full story by Jay Lindsay of the Associated Press at The Boston Globe 

 

June 20, 2013 — The following was released by the House Natural Resources Committee:

WASHINGTON — The House Natural Resources Committee will hold an oversight hearing on Thursday, June 27th on “the Management of Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.”
 
Federal management of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico has been contentious and recent actions by states and the courts have created uncertainty for fishermen.  This continued uncertainty has serious consequences for the economic well-being of many coastal communities.  The Committee is currently examining issues for the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Act) and this hearing will allow the Committee to hear testimony on the potential development of a regional management plan for the recreational sector to allow for more flexibility in the existing management structure.  The Committee will also hear testimony on how the Act could be modified to create better management of the red snapper fishery resource in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
WHAT:
Full Committee oversight hearing on “the Management of Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.”
 
WHEN:
Thursday, June 27, 2013
10:00AM
 
WHERE:
1324 Hearing Room in the Longworth House Office Building
 
 
Visit the Committee Calendar for additional information, once it is made available.  The meeting is open to the public and a live video stream will be broadcast at http://naturalresources.house.gov/live.

 

June 20, 2013 — Eight congressmen led by Rep. William Keating have written to fisheries managers asking for a close look at the effects of reopening some areas closed to scallopers for 20 years.

Keating, along with Reps. Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch, all D-Mass., wrote that the northern edge of Georges Bank has an estimated 30 million pounds of harvestable scallops, worth $300 million at today's prices.

"Being able to open that area, and others like it, while protecting groundfish habitats would be a great benefit for fishing communities in New England," they wrote.

The groundfish protection is the concern of some environmental groups, which usually oppose reopening closed areas as they did earlier this year in the groundfish fishery.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

June 19, 2013 — The following was released by the office of Congressman William Keating:

WASHINGTON – Yesterday afternoon, Rep. Bill Keating was joined by Reps. Ed Markey and Stephen F. Lynch in sending a letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) urging careful consideration of the economic and conservation impacts of modifying access to currently closed fishing grounds.  Federal and cooperative surveys show the closed portion of the Northern Edge of Georges Bank alone contains approximately 30 million pounds of harvestable scallops, valued at over $300 million.  Being able to open that area, and others like it, while protecting groundfish habitats would be a great benefit for fishing communities in New England.
 
The NMFS and NEFMC are meeting this week in Portland, Maine, to develop draft management alternatives to the Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Amendment. As part of the amendment process, fishery managers are evaluating whether to re-open currently closed areas, including the Northern Edge of Georges Bank.
 
“As the Council moves forward with consideration of the Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment, it is critical that the fishing communities’ needs be fully assessed,” said Rep. Keating. “I am proud to represent the most cohesive fishing-related district in Massachusetts, including the Port of New Bedford, home to the largest commercial scallop fleet. I hope that the Council will return the scallop fishery’s access to its historic fishing grounds on Georges Bank and in the Great South Channel, consistent with conservation needs.”
 
"Now is not the time to keep New Bedford and other Massachusetts fishermen out of historical scallop grounds that have been restored to health," said Rep. Markey. "I hope the Council addresses these issues with an eye towards the economic needs of our fishermen and the ecological decisions that will keep these scallop grounds and other fish stocks as healthy as possible for decades to come."
 
Rep. Lynch said, “Our efforts to balance the often competing interests of rebuilding our fishing stock with maintaining a viable commercial fishing industry have yielded few successes.  However, the recovery of the Atlantic scallop fishery is an example of how the system can work.  Providing access to these historic grounds will allow the hard working men and women of our historic fishing community to maintain their livelihood and continue in this cooperative recovery effort.”
 
Additional cosigners on Rep. Keating’s bipartisan letter include Reps. Frank LoBiondo and Jon Runyan of New Jersey, Robert Wittman of Virginia, Joe Courtney of Connecticut, and Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire.
 
The full text of the letter is below.
 
 
June 18, 2013
 
 
Mr. John K. Bullard
Regional Administrator
National Marine Fisheries Service
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
 
Mr. C. M. “Rip” Cunningham
Chairman
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
 
Dear Administrator Bullard and Chairman Cunningham:
 
As elected officials in Atlantic coastal districts and states, we take a strong interest in preserving our maritime heritage and sustaining diverse coastal economies. We are proud of our fishing communities and, particularly, the hard-working men and women who have chosen fishing as a way of life. Many of these fishing families and businesses in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions have been struggling with a consistent pattern of major harvest reductions, even as many other sectors of our economy are beginning to recover.
 
Over the past decade, however, one fishery has provided a steady source of income and support for fishing community infrastructure, as well as a model of positive cooperative fishery management: the Atlantic scallop fishery. However, even the scallop industry is facing major harvest reductions, stemming at least in part from the continued closure of certain historic fishing grounds on the Northern Edge of Georges Bank. Federal and cooperative surveys show the closed portion of the Northern Edge alone contains approximately 30 million pounds of harvestable scallops, valued at over $300 million at today’s market prices.
 
We understand the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) are currently nearing the conclusion of a lengthy effort to develop what is known as the Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Amendment. This action is designed to meet the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act’s (MSA) requirement that adverse impacts of fishing on such habitat be minimized “to the extent practicable.” As you work to conclude the Omnibus EFH Amendment process, we urge you to consider the potential adverse impacts (or foregone opportunities) on fishing communities and loss of sustainable scallop yield that providing or maintaining access to fishing grounds would otherwise provide, as well as reasonable conservation needs.
 
As part of the Omnibus EFH Amendment process, fishery managers are evaluating whether to re-open areas that have been closed to fishing for nearly twenty years, including the Northern Edge area referenced above. It is our understanding that a wealth of new habitat and fishery abundance information – much of it obtained through cooperative research led by the scallop industry and its academic partners – has become available since the closures were first enacted. We encourage you to use this information to inform your decisions regarding the impact on fish habitat.
 
Additionally, we have been informed that new areas are being considered for long-term EFH closure, such as historically productive fishing and scalloping grounds in the Great South Channel, located to the south and west of Georges Bank. Closures are also being debated for other areas along the Northern Edge that are currently open to fishing. High levels of quality scallop abundance in the Great South Channel and in the open areas of the Northern Edge are helping to support robust scallop landings this year, despite current conservation cut-backs.
 
Fish habitat and abundance are not the only issues at stake. We understand that areas such as the Northern Edge offer opportunities to harvest scallops and haddock with lower levels of bycatch of depleted species such as yellowtail flounder. Harvesting more target species with lower bycatch enables more seafood and dollars to flow into the economy, and conservation goals to be more efficiently met.
 
The MSA requires NMFS and its regional councils to balance conservation and community considerations, and to use the best scientific and economic information available. Thus, we respectfully ask that you support our fishing communities by providing the scallop fishery’s access to its historic fishing grounds on Georges Bank and in the Great South Channel, while continuing necessary habitat protection for groundfish. We thank you in advance for your consideration of our request.
 
Sincerely,
William R. Keating (D, MA)
Frank A. LoBiondo (R, NJ)
Edward J. Markey (D, MA)
Jon Runyan (R, NJ)
Stephen F. Lynch (D, MA)
Robert J. Wittman (R, VA)
Joe Courtney (D, CT)
Carol Shea-Porter (D, NH)

 

 

WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) June 19, 2013 — In a letter to the Secretary of the Interior, John Connelly, President of the National Fisheries Institute, takes issue with a National Park Service proposal to modify food offerings in national parks, by implementing its Sustainable Food Choice Guidelines for seafood. The guidelines state: "where seafood options are offered, provide only those that are 'Best Choices' or 'Good Alternatives' on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch list, certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, or identified by an equivalent program that has been approved by the NPS."

Mr. Connelly writes that the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the law managing US fisheries, is "a rigorous, participatory, and transparent system that ensures fish caught in US waters is sustainable." Because of this, and fisheries management that is "recognized as one of the best in the world," Mr. Connelly states that fish caught in the United States do not need additional third-party certification.

Mr Connelly also recommends NOAA's Fish Watch program as a source of information on sustainable seafood, stating that it "provides 'easy-to-understand science-based facts' to help vendors and consumers alike make smart sustainable seafood choices."

The full text of the letter is reproduced below.

The Honorable Sally Jewell
Secretary
United States Department of the Interior
1951 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20240

Dear Secretary Jewell:

Congratulations on your new initiative to promote healthy food options for the millions of visitors who travel to our National Parks. Encouraging Americans to enjoy healthy diets, especially those that include seafood, is an important mission of the National Fisheries Institute.

Our organization, which represents the full seafood value chain in the United States, requests more information to better understand what Interior and the National Parks Service means by "sustainable seafood" and what counts as "certified sustainable seafood" in the new guidelines for vendors.

The Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oversee implementation of the Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA), our nation's fisheries law. MSA is a rigorous, participatory, and transparent system that ensures fish caught in U.S. waters is sustainable. The science-based fisheries management system managed by NOAA is recognized as one of the best in the world. Moreover, NOAA's Fish Watch program provides "easy-to- understand science-based facts" to help vendors and consumers alike make smart sustainable seafood choices.

As the National Park Service develops the healthy food standards for its vendors, we ask you to recognize that any fish caught in U.S. waters is already "certified sustainable," based on rigorous NOAA oversight and does not need additional certifications. Similarly, any fish grown in the United States must follow strict state and federal laws.

Additional government requirements for third party certifications serve to increase costs and undermine the credibility and good work that Commerce and other regulators already oversee. In other words, why would Interior and NPS require third party certification of seafood sustainability if Commerce were doing its job well?

Please let me know if you have questions or concerns, although your federal partners at NOAA and Commerce and those regulating aquacultured fish are probably even better suited to ensure you fully appreciate the rigor of their system.

Sincerely

John Connelly
President
National Fisheries Institute

cc:
The Honorable Cameron Kerry
Acting Secretary, Department of Commerce U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20230

Dr. Kathryn Sullivan
Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting NOAA Administrator
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20230

The Honorable Jon Jarvis Director, National Park Service 1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240

Representative Doc Hastings
Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources 1203 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Representative Ed Markey
Ranking Member, House Committee on Natural Resources 2108 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Read a PDF of the letter here

 

 

June 14, 2013 — The National Park Service will use the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program to guide purchasing decisions for more than 250 culinary operations in 75 national parks nationwide, the aquarium announced Friday.

The sustainable food guidelines were released last week at a tasting event on the National Mall in Washington as part of a “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” initiative that requires food service operators to begin offering healthy food options and to incorporate more sustainably-sourced ingredients from land and sea.

The new guidelines specify that, “Where seafood options are offered, provide only those that are ‘Best Choices’ or ‘Good Alternatives’ on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch list, certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, or identified by an equivalent program that has been approved by the NPS.”

Read the full story at The Californian

 

 

WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — June 14, 2013 – The following appeared in the Congressional Record:

HON. WALTER B. JONES OF NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to honor Richard Gaines, an accomplished journalist and great friend of the fishing industry who passed away unexpectedly on June 9, 2013.

I began working with Mr. Gaines when he was employed at the Gloucester Daily Times in Massachusetts as a staff writer with a reputation for thorough, effective reporting.

Through his passionate coverage of the fishing industry, he became an advocate for fishermen across the country. Elected officials, peers, and readers alike admired Mr. Gaines’ ability to clearly and accurately communicate the issues facing the industry.

Mr. Gaines began his career in the 1960’s as a reporter for United Press International. He went on to become editor-in-chief at the Boston Phoenix, where he was well-known as an investigative journalist and garnered national attention when the paper was named as a runner up for a Pulitzer Prize. He authored a book and worked as a political consultant before joining the Gloucester Daily Times.

Mr. Gaines regularly reported on issues directly affecting the Third District of North Carolina, and his insight into the fishing industry will be greatly missed. We have lost not only a talented journalist, but a man of honesty and integrity and a true friend to America’s fishermen. I am grateful for Mr. Gaines’ service and pleased to have him recognized by the United States Congress, an honor which he truly deserves.

Read the remarks here