SEAFOODNEWS.COM by John Sackton — June 2, 2015 — NGO’s were swift to condemn the version of the Magnuson Reauthorization passed by the House yesterday.
The bill attracted far less democratic support than in the past. At issue is whether flexibility sought by many in the industry with widespread bipartisan support should extend to weakening a number of other environmental practices – such as requiring Environmental Impact statements for major changes to Fishery Management plans.
As the bill moves forward, Obama’s veto threat may lead to more negotiations in the Senate.
As reported by the Associated Press, Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, called the vote “a win for the consumer, a win for the industry that puts food on our tables and restaurants, a win for the recreational fisherman, a win for better and more transparent science and a win for the American taxpayers.”
Rep Don Young, chief sponsor of the bill, said the bill was “written for fish and communities — not interest groups” and would ensure that “the needs of our fisheries resources are balanced with the needs of our fishermen and coastal communities.”
Young said the provision allowing local managers to consider the economic needs of fishing communities in setting catch limits was crucial to the health of fishing communities from New England to the Gulf of Mexico to Alaska. The bill also would revise the fishing law to more closely reflect the current science, management techniques and knowledge of local fishermen and regional management councils.
Pew’s Ted Morton, director of their U.S. Ocean policy team, said “Tonight, the House of Representatives voted to weaken the Magnuson-Stevens Act, our nation’s primary ocean fish management law, in a divided vote. This is the wrong way forward.”
“H.R. 1335 is significantly flawed legislation. It hurts U.S. fishermen and coastal communities by undercutting progress in ending overfishing and rebuilding depleted fish populations. It erodes science-based management. It fails to tackle tough 21st century problems, such as habitat loss and warming ocean temperatures, with a more comprehensive approach.”
“ I hope and expect the U.S. Senate will take a different, more consensus-based course, as it works on this important law.”
Matt Tinning, Senior Director of Environmental Defense Fund’s U.S. Oceans Program said “The House of Representatives put our proud record of success in U.S. fisheries management at risk tonight by passing HR1335. The bill creates loopholes that remove hard deadlines to rebuild depleted fisheries and could exempt hundreds of species from annual catch limits. It undercuts bedrock environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Antiquities Act and National Marine Sanctuaries Act. And it imposes unnecessary restrictions on the decisions of regional fishery management councils, long the principal forums for fishery management in the United States.”
“The turnaround of U.S. fisheries has been one of the great conservation success stories of the last two decades. Overfishing in federal waters is being eradicated, and depleted stocks are rebuilding at an impressive rate. In an April report, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that overfishing and overfished numbers hit all-time lows in 2014, and that the number of stocks fully rebuilt since 2000 now stands at 37.”
“Rather than weaken a successful federal law, we should focus our energies on effective implementation. The regional fishery management councils have the authority they need to address concerns where they exist, and to implement more innovative management approaches where required.”
Finally, the Marine Conservation Network’s Robert Vandermark, which represents a number of conservation organizations in Washington, said
“We are disappointed with the House passage of HR 1335. The legislation passed by the House undermines the strong science and conservation measures within the current law and promotes greater uncertainty in the future management of our fisheries. We hope the Senate will follow in the tradition of Senators Magnuson and Stevens and work across the aisle to draft a bill that builds upon the law’s success and strengthens it to meet the new challenges our oceans and fisheries face. We look forward to working with the Senate to renew the Magnuson-Stevens Act for the benefit of fishermen, seafood business owners, coastal communities, and all Americans who rely on healthy oceans and productive fisheries.”
This story originally appeared on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It has been reprinted with permission.