WASHINGTON, D.C. –- May 29, 2014 — Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), a senior member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, criticized the Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization bill offered by Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) as being too partisan. The bill would amend and reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), which is the law governing management of fisheries in the United States.
“It had been my hope that this reauthorization would have taken a more bipartisan approach to reform fisheries policies,” said Pallone. “While the bill includes important fisheries management reforms I strongly support, such as important flexibility language and modifications to the annual catch limit requirements, I am troubled by language in the bill that would make unnecessary changes to important environmental protection policies. In its current form, it is unlikely that the bill would pass in the Senate or be signed into law.”
The bill would vest National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) authority in the fishery management councils instead of with the appropriate federal agencies, according to Pallone. Pallone voiced his concern that the regional councils lack the expertise to appropriately review and analyze the impacts and requirements of NEPA or the ESA.
Congressman Pallone offered his own amendment to the bill, which was passed by the committee, to ensure the fishery management councils are collecting the best information possible about recreational fishing based on scientific data.
Read the full story at the Atlantic Highlands Herald