WASHINGTON — July 9, 2014 — Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after introducing the Fish Hatchery Protection Act:
“Today, I am proud to introduce important legislation which will prevent the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from arbitrarily killing jobs and harming local economies. My bill will preserve propagation fish hatcheries and propagation programs within the National Fish Hatchery System and stipulates that only the Congress can authorize the termination of such facilities or programs.
“As a result of an administrative decision, important recreational fishing propagation programs have been terminated or slated for termination including the Rainbow Trout Stocking Program at the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery. This decision is extremely misguided as several of the hatcheries affected were constructed more than 60 years ago for the sole purpose of offsetting the loss of native fisheries resulting from the construction of federal dams.
“The recreational fishing propagation programs that are on the Fish and Wildlife’s hit list are the only hatchery programs that generate any substantive revenues for many rural economies. My legislation will reverse the short-sided decisions by the Administration, preserve jobs, strengthen local economies and ensure the continuation of vibrant recreational fishing economies in Arizona and throughout the nation.”
Hildy Angius, Chairman of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors said, “As a representative of the citizens of Rural Arizona, I want to thank Congressman Paul Gosar for introducing the Fish Hatchery Protection Act. The 52-year old Trout stocking program at Willow Beach in Mohave County supports a multi-million dollar recreational fishing and tourist industry, an industry that makes up over 30% of Mohave County’s economy. The loss of this program would be devastating. I urge Congress to support the Fish Hatchery Protection Act and fulfill the mitigation commitments that were made decades ago."
Read the full release from U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) at Prescott News