April 9, 2014 — The following was released by the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers:
On April 3, 2014 the US Senate, led by Senator Murkowski, Senator Begich, and members of the Senate Oceans Caucus, took a major step in the global fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU), or “pirate fishing,” by ratifying the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated Fishing. This Agreement is the first global instrument designed specifically to address pirate fishing. The United States was a leader in developing the Agreement back in 2009. Now with Senate ratification, the United States can continue to demonstrate its global leadership in combating this illicit activity.
For decades the Alaskan crab industry has provided the most relevant real world example of what can happen to markets when they are flooded with illegal product. NOAA estimates that since 2000, illegal Russian crab exports have cost Alaskan crab harvesters more than $500 million in lost revenue. Alaskan coastal communities have also been denied millions in lost taxes. Senator Murkowski and Senator Begich have long understood the impacts to the Alaskan economy and have been tireless in their efforts to turn the tide on this illicit activity for the benefit of all Alaskans. Both Senators are to be commended for their leadership on an issue that many in Congress have chosen to ignore.