Members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, along with Alaska Senator Mark Begich, will host a listening session on the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — November 1, 2013 — On Monday, November 3 at 10:00am at the Massachusetts State House, members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, along with Alaska Senator Mark Begich, will host a listening session on the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. According to a press release from Senator Elizabeth Warren's office, she and Senator Begich, along with Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey and Congressmen John Tierney and Bill Keating, will hear from fishermen and members of the scientific community on the best ways to improve and update federal fisheries management.
Among those scheduled to speak on Monday is Vito Giacalone, Policy Director for the Northeast Seafood Coalition (NSC), a non-profit which represents fishermen in the region on political and policy issues affecting the groundfish fishery. According to an NSC press release, Mr. Giacalone will offer his testimony at the session's first panel, which will consist of members of the fishing industry. At previous hearings on the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Mr. Giacalone has testified on how uncertain science has produced dramatic reversals in management policy, leading to instability in the fishery. He has also advocated for more flexibility in management, to allow the regional Councils to best tailor their management strategies to local circumstances.
Mr. Giacalone will be joined by representatives from the Fisheries Survival Fund (FSF), which represents the majority of the full-time Limited Access Atlantic scallop fleet. Among other issues, FSF representatives will advocate for allowing scallopers to access areas in the Northern Edge of Georges Bank that are currently closed to the scallop fishery. The New England Fishery Management Council's Scallop Plan Development Team estimates that there are about 29 million pounds of exploitable scallops in current Essential Fish Habitat areas, including the closed area in the Northern Edge. This section of the Northern Edge had been an historically important fishing ground for the scallop fleet before being closed 20 years ago. FSF plans to argue that permitting access to this portion of the Northern Edge will help the fleet overcome steep upcoming reductions in the allowable scallop catch.
Listening Session on Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization
When: Monday, November 4, 2013, 10:00am-11:30am
Where: Massachusetts State House, Hearing Room A-1
Read the release from the Northeast Seafood Coalition