New catch share programs on the East and Gulf coasts could be started by the federal government only with approval of the members of the fishery under legislation that has now been filed by three representatives in the U.S. House.
The legislation also requires the termination of existing programs — such as the catch share regimen for New England groundfish — when the total number of fishermen in the program drops by 15 percent.
The "Saving Fishing Jobs Act of 2011" was filed last week by Republican Reps. Jon Runyan of New Jersey, Walter Jones of North Carolina and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida.
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