December 16, 2014 — A piece of federal legislation, long in the works, passed this month and will give tightly regulated Pacific Coast groundfish fishermen some extra breathing room.
The Revitalizing the Economy of Fisheries in the Pacific Act, or the REFI Pacific Act, received strong bipartisan and bicameral support and passed last week. It is now on its way for President Obama’s signature.
The REFI Act will affect about 120 active vessels and will reduce the percentage remaining fishermen in the Pacific Coast groundfish fleet will have to pay on a federal buyout. Currently, they pay 5% of what they make on a harvest. Once the REFI Pacific Act is signed and implemented, they will pay 3% or even less.
The REFI Pacific Act was introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.03) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.02). It was later sponsored in the Senate by another Washington legislator, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantell (D-Wash.)
Read the full story at the Chinook Observer