Washington

Two months ago, on April 5, noting that as "the end of the fishing season draws to a close, it is evident that several individual fishing stocks quotas remain[ed] to be filled," Senator John Kerry, Congressman Barney Frank, and Congressman William Keating asked Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to "consider increasing the percentage of unmet quota that can be rolled-over into the 2011-2012 fishing year."

The lawmakers pointed out that "only 67% of the total allocation of George's Bank Cod has been caught and only 16.5% of the George's Bank Haddock."

Yesterday, Secretary Locke responded, saying that his department he shares the lawmakers "desire to allow the maximum amount of fish to be caught under established limits and [is] reviewing the possibility of increasing the percentage of permitted rollover."  The secretary stated: "It is important that we collaborate with the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) to consider the interrelated biological, economic, and legal issues that arise with this proposal."

The 2010-2011 fishing year has already ended.

Read the request to Secretary Locke.

Read the response from Secretary Locke.

 

 

 

 

 

You knew that just about anyone President Barack Obama nominated to be the new Secretary of Commerce would be under attack almost immediately by Republicans. But you probably wouldn’t have guessed that a few lawmakers in Obama’s own party would also be slamming the decision.

That’s exactly what happened when Rep. John Tierney and Rep. Barney Frank issued a statement expressing their disappointment with Obama’s selection of John Bryson to be the new commerce secretary. The reason for the two Massachusetts Democrats’ concern? Bryson is too much of an environmentalist.

They weren’t pleased to see that Bryson, who has longstanding ties to the National Resources Defense Council, was Obama’s top choice.

Read the complete story from Mass. Market.

 

 

 

 

 

NEW BEDFORD — President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the next secretary of commerce raised concerns among fishing interests today.

When Dr. Brian Rothschild, dean emeritus of the UMass School of Marine Science and Technology, heard that nominee John Bryson was a co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council, his reaction was, “Oh, wow.”

But the NRDC was founded 40 years ago, and today Bryson is better known for being chairman and CEO of the power company Edison International until he retired in 2008.

Read the complete story from The South Coast Today.

 

 

 

 

 

The ink was barely dry on President Barack Obama’s nomination for Secretary of Commerce before congressional Republicans promised to oppose the pick.

California Rep. Darrel Issa, chairman of the House oversight committee, took aim at John Bryson, the nominee, calling him a “green evangelist.”

Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Inhofe promised to work “actively” to defeat Bryson’s nomination. Inhofe, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said Tuesday that Obama’s choice shows “that he has no intention of backing down from his job-killing agenda.”

Read the complete story from The Daily Caller.

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has chosen businessman John Bryson to lead the Commerce Department, bringing another private sector player into an administration that has been making a concerted effort to improve its relationship with the business community.

Bryson, 67, is a former chairman and chief executive officer of Edison International, a California-based energy company. He also has an extensive background in environmental issues, having co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council and served on a United Nations advisory group on energy and climate change.

Read the complete by The AP at Forbes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2008, U.S. commercial and saltwater recreational fisheries generated $163 billion in sales impacts and supported 1.9 million full- and part-time jobs. This value would increase considerably if the additional economic output of diving and other ecotourism industries that depend on thriving fish populations were also included.

The Pew Environment Group recommends that Congress prioritize the following six relatively low-cost but high-yield investments for Fiscal Year 2012 and at a minimum fund the President’s request for the following core data-collection and monitoring programs, totaling $346.3 million:

Expand Annual Stock Assessments: $67.1 million, an increase of $16.2 million over the Fiscal Year 2010 enacted level. Stock assessments are scientific analyses of the health of fish populations and the amount of fishing they can support. Investment in assessments will increase the scientific certainty associated with setting annual catch limits, help fishery managers to increase commercial and recreational fishing opportunities and minimize the risk of overfishing.

Read the entire PEW fact sheet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WASHINGTON – May 27, 2011 – After an extensive scientific review, NOAA announced today that Atlantic bluefin tuna currently do not warrant species protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The American Bluefin Tuna Association (ABTA) praised NOAA's decision to reject the petition by the Center for Biological Diversity to list Atlantic Bluefin Tuna as endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. ABTA Executive Director Rich Ruais said "this wise decision by NOAA today to stay the course with ICCAT conservation efforts is a huge victory for long term effective conservation of Atlantic bluefin tuna and for the tens of thousands of American recreational and commercial fishermen dependent upon or enjoying recreational fishing for this majestic fish."

Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank responded to the NOAA announcement stating "I welcome this announcement by NOAA that I and several other members requested, and I hope that this decision is sign of NOAA's recognition that good science and good economics are fully compatible," 

Maine Senator Olympia Snowe stated "I am pleased NOAA has made the right, scientifically sound decision with regards to bluefin tuna. Listing the bluefin as threatened or endangered would have jeopardized the livelihood of Maine's bluefin tuna fishermen. Additionally, such a listing would have unilaterally penalized U.S. fishermen, particularly the hard-working, responsible fishermen of Maine, who have been properly managing this valuable resource.  For years, U.S. fishermen have led the world in efforts to conserve highly migratory fish stocks and this decision reaffirms their commitment to re-build these stocks. I commend and thank NOAA Administrator, Dr. Lubchenco for following this course of action."

The following is from NOAA's press release

NOAA has committed to revisit this decision by early 2013, when more information will be available about the effects of the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill, as well as a new stock assessment from the scientific arm of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, the international body charged with the fish's management and conservation.

NOAA is formally designating both the western Atlantic and eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stocks of bluefin tuna as "species of concern" under the Endangered Species Act. This places the species on a watchlist for concerns about its status and threats to the species.

"NOAA is concerned about the status of bluefin tuna, including the potential effects of the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill on the western stock of Atlantic bluefin, which spawns in the Gulf of Mexico," said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "We will revisit the status of the species in early 2013 when we will have a new stock assessment and information from the Natural Resource Damage Assessment of the oil spill. We will also take action in the interim if new information indicates the need for greater protection."

NOAA's status review, released with today's decision and peer-reviewed by The Center for Independent Experts, indicates that based on the best available information and assuming countries comply with the bluefin tuna fishing quotas established by ICCAT, both the western and eastern Atlantic stocks are not likely to become extinct.

The status review team also looked at the best available information on the potential effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill on the future abundance of the western stock of bluefin tuna and found that it did not substantially alter the results of the extinction risk analysis. While the NOAA team found that the presently available information did not favor listing, it also recognized the need to continue to monitor the potential long-term effects of the spill on bluefin tuna and the overall ecosystem. New scientific information is expected in a 2012 bluefin tuna stock assessment and as part of the Natural Resources Damage Assessment of the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill.

"Based on careful scientific review, we have decided the best way to ensure the long- term sustainability of bluefin tuna is through international cooperation and strong domestic fishery management," said Eric Schwaab, assistant NOAA administrator for NOAA's Fisheries Service. "The United States will continue to be a leader in advocating science-based quotas at ICCAT, full compliance with these quotas and other management measures to ensure the long- term viability of this and other important fish stocks."

NOAA conducted the status review of Atlantic bluefin after determining on Sept. 21, 2010, that a petition for listing under the ESA from a national environmental organization warranted a scientific status review.

Read the status review report on Atlantic bluefin tuna, the federal register notice and other information on bluefin tuna

 

 

 

 

 

May 25, 2011 – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is holding what could be a one-day, rubber stamp confirmation hearing today on President Obama's nominee, to be ambassador to China, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

Committee Chairman John Kerry, who announced the hearing, said, "President Obama could not have chosen a better person to represent our interests in Beijing at this critical juncture in US-China relations.

"Locke will be responsible for helping build the kind of candid and cooperative partnership with China that is essential if we are to rebalance our economic relationship, combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and address the threat posed by global climate change."

Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.

 

 

 

 

 

Seven days after President Obama nominated him as ambassador to China, Commerce Secretary Gary F. Locke publicly reversed an earlier decision that adversely affected some Massachusetts fishermen, constituents of Democratic Sen. John F. Kerry. Mr. Locke made the change after two weeks of intense lobbying by Mr. Kerry, who will chair his confirmation hearing Thursday.

Mr. Locke, whose department regulates fishing within 200 miles of the U.S. coast, agreed to two major concessions sought by Mr. Kerry for fishermen accused of violations who felt they had been victims of overzealous enforcement and excessive penalties by federal officials.

He agreed to give fishermen who had not filed complaints another chance to have their cases reviewed for fairness by a special investigator and to possibly get their fines returned or reduced. He also agreed the fishermen could ask to stay the payment of any pending fines while a special investigator reviewed the cases.

Read the complete story from The Washington Times.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sat down this week for a television interview with PBS' Charlie Rose.

Issues addressed ranged from climate change and water pollution to fisheries management. She said, "We manage oceans and coasts with the goal of having them be healthy, either keeping them healthy or returning them to a healthy state… there are over 140 different federal laws and regulations and each one is sort of implemented individually. So [the New Ocean Policy] says we need a more integrated approach."

Later in the interview she said, “It has also been my goal to end overfishing. That would be a major accomplishment and we are on track to do that. We are using some new, creative ways of empowering fishermen to make smart business decisions and be good conservations; think long term, not just the race to fish which is what has driven so much of the overfishing.” 

Watch the entire interview with Charlie Rose.