Saving Seafood

Florida, Alaska Senators Champion Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act

May 4, 2018 — SEAFOOD NEWS — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, recently introduced the Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act (S. 2764), a similar bill introduced in the House — H.R. 5248 — by Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla.

A press release from Rubio’s office said the bicameral legislation recognizes the sustainable and economically-valuable fishing practices of U.S. shark fishermen and promotes U.S. standards for shark conservation and humane harvest.

Sharks play an important role in maintaining the health of the ocean ecosystems for which Florida is known, Rubio noted in the statement.

“Sharks are already sustainably and humanely harvested in federal waters per U.S. law, providing sustained economic benefits to coastal communities through fishing, trade, and tourism. This bill will help promote those same standards for sustainable and humane shark harvesting among our global trade partners as well,” Rubio said in the release. “This bill protects international shark populations as well as the fishermen in Florida and throughout the U.S. who continue to fish by the rules.”

Both the senate and house bills are a contrast to other proposed legislation, such as H.R. 1456, directed at the sales of shark fins. Those bills, critics say, will do nothing to eliminate the sales of shark fins globally, punish the domestic seafood industry and could unintentionally create a market for the practice of shark finning by foreign fishermen.

“While the practice of shark finning is already banned in U.S. waters, we do have a small population of fishermen who legally harvest whole sharks for their meat, oil, and other products,” Murkowski said in the statement. “This legislation sets a strong policy example for global nations that wish to prevent shark finning in their waters, while respecting the cultures of communities that rely on subsistence, protecting the rights of American fisherman that operate in the legal shark fisheries, and supporting the efforts of shark conservationists.

“Together, we can find solutions to protect our fisheries, our communities, and our marine ecosystems, worldwide.”

According to Rubio’s office, the Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act would:

  • Create a shark conservation and trade fairness certification for nations wishing to import shark products to the U.S.;
  • Prohibit the importation of shark products originating from any nation without a certification, and the possession of such products in the U.S. with limited exceptions for law enforcement, subsistence harvest, education, conservation, or scientific research;
  • Update the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act to reflect the U.S. commitment to promote international agreements that encourage the adoption of shark conservation and management measures and measures to prevent shark finning that are consistent with the International Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks; and
  • Direct the Secretary of Commerce to include rays and skates into the seafood traceability program to ensure that shark products are not smuggled into the U.S. falsely labeled as rays and skates, two closely related groups.

“Fishing is a long-standing profession and treasured American pastime,” Webster stated in the release. “We must pursue conservation, while balancing the needs of the industry and recreation. This bill recognizes the sacrifices American fishermen have made to rebuild and sustain our shark populations. It encourages other nations wishing to export shark products to the United States to adhere to the same high standards for conservation and management.”

Webster’s proposed legislation has 15 cosponsors. It passed the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans in April. It also has the support of several groups that have opposed H.R. 1456 and related bills. The Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Palm Beach Zoo, SeaWorld, Zoo Miami Foundation, the Florida Aquarium, the Southeastern Fisheries Association, Directed Sustainable Fisheries, Louisiana Shrimpers and Garden State Seafood all support Webster’s bill, according to Sunshine State News.

This story originally appeared on Seafood News, it is republished here with permission.

 

Subcommittee to Review Extension of Endangered Fish Recovery Programs

November 29, 2017 — WASHINGTON — The following was released by the House Committee on Natural Resources:

On Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 10:00 AM in 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans will hold a legislative hearing on the following bill:

  • H.R. 4465 (Rep. John Curtis), To maintain annual base funding for the Upper Colorado and San Juan fish recovery programs through fiscal year 2023, to require a report on the implementation of those programs, and for other purposes.“Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act of 2017.”
WHAT: Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4465
WHEN: Wednesday, December 6
10:00 AM
WHERE: 1324 Longworth House Office Building

Visit the Committee Calendar for additional information once it is made available. The meeting is open to the public and a video feed will stream live at House Committee on Natural Resources.

Learn more about the House Committee on Natural Resources by visiting their site here.

 

House Hearing: Ocean Stakeholders Discuss National Ocean Policy

May 20, 2016 — WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) – Earlier this week, ocean stakeholders – representatives from fishing, offshore power, agricultural industries – testified regarding their disparate experiences working with the Obama Administration’s National Ocean Policy. Their testimonies were part of an oversight hearing by the House Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans, “The Implications of President Obama’s National Ocean Policy.”

“I have to wonder,” said Representative Tom McClintock (R-CA), “if perhaps some stakeholders are more equal than others.” The question of who benefits from current ocean policy framed the entire hearing.

Bob Zales, a fisherman of 50 years and president of the National Association of Charterboat Operators emphasized in his testimony the exclusion of fishery stakeholders from the formulation and implementation of the National Ocean Policy. In one telling anecdote, Mr. Zales described how his only means of participation in the planning process was a one-minute testimony during the public comment period of a hearing New Orleans.

“I drove from Panama City Florida to New Orleans – and back – in one day, to give one minute of testimony,” he said. “That one minute does nothing.”

Meghan Lapp, who represents commercial fishing company Seafreeze Ltd., echoed Mr. Zales’ testimony in her own statement, discussing the limited and frustrating interactions Seafreeze had had with planners during the formation state of the National Ocean Policy.

“They’ll listen to your comments, but they don’t do anything with them. They don’t incorporate them into whatever they are doing,” said Lapp.

In contrast, Jim Lanard, CEO of Magellan Wind, when questioned by Representative Tom McClintock about the level of input offshore power companies have had on the National Ocean Policy, protested, saying regulators had in fact listened to him. “No, that has not been my experience at all,” said Mr. Lanard.

Representative Rob Bishop (R-UT), Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, spoke for many at the hearing when in his comments he summarized the confusion created by the National Ocean Policy.

“This National Ocean Policy was created six years ago,” he said, “and six years later they [the Obama Administration] still don’t seem to know what they’re doing.”

House Natural Resources Committee Hearing: The Implications of President Obama’s National Ocean Policy

May 16, 2016 — The following was released by the House Natural Resources Committees’ Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans:

On Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at 10:00 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans will hold an oversight hearing on “The Implications of President Obama’s National Ocean Policy.”

Policy Overview:

  • Following unsuccessful efforts to pass major national ocean policy legislation during three successive Congresses under both Democrat and Republican majorities, the Obama Administration initiated the development of a sweeping multi-agency federal management plan for oceans. This effort culminated with the July 2010 issuance by the White House of National Ocean Policy Executive Order 13547.
  • The National Ocean Policy (NOP) imposes a new governance structure over two dozen federal agencies to ensure to the fullest extent that all future agency actions are consistent with the Executive Order.
  • The reach of the National Ocean Policy extends beyond coastal areas to inland rivers and adjacent lands, as demonstrated in part by National Ocean Policy directives to protect forestlands and wetland-associated uplands.

Invited Witnesses: (listed in alphabetical order)

Mr. Dan Keppen

Executive Director, Family Farm Alliance Klamath Falls, Oregon

Ms. Elizabeth Kerttula

Director, National Ocean Council Washington, D.C.

Mr. Jim Lanard

Chief Executive Officer, Magellan Wind Collingswood, New Jersey

Ms. Meghan Lapp

Fisheries Liaison, Seafreeze, Ltd. North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Mr. Bob Zales

President, National Association of Charterboat Operators Hurley, Mississippi

See the event listing and read the hearing memo at the Natural Resources Committee website

JON WILLIAMS: Not So Fast On Atlantic Marine Monument

WASHINGTON — November 4, 2015 — The following is an excerpt from an opinion piece written by Jon Williams, President of the Atlantic Red Crab Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was originally published today by The Hill, a Washington-based publication covering Congressional policy and politics: 

An ongoing campaign led by large, well-funded environmental organizations is urging President Obama to use the 1906 Antiquities Act to designate parts of the Atlantic Ocean-such as Cashes Ledge in the Gulf of Maine and the New England Canyons and Seamounts-as marine National Monuments. In September, I had the privilege of testifying before House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans about the aspect of this proposal that seeks to exclude historic fisheries from the designated area.

The Antiquities Act, originally enacted to give Teddy Roosevelt authority to protect vulnerable Native American archeological sites, allows the president to act quickly, unilaterally, and without Congressional oversight to preserve sites in danger of destruction. The act, while undoubtedly created in good faith, has been misused in the case of marine monuments to a frightening extent.

In my case, the red crab fishing business I’ve been operating for twenty years is active in some of the areas under the proposal. Not only has our fishery complied with every regulation, but we have expended significant resources and time to ensure the health of the resource we fish.  We were the first U.S. Atlantic Coast fishery certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, demonstrating we have minimal impact on the health of the species and its environment. Additionally, we are listed as “Ocean-Friendly” by the New England Aquarium Seafood Guide program. 

Although these processes took years of effort and hundreds of thousands of dollars-a significant cost for a fishery of our size-it was important that we understood how the red crab fishery impacted the environment and demonstrated that our practices were indeed sustainable. 

These efforts to both understand and minimize our impact on the environment have been so successful that after forty years of red crab fishing, our fishing grounds are described as “pristine” by the same environmental groups who seek the monument designation. If these habitats are still “pristine” after forty years of fishing, how can a serious argument be made that the area is in imminent danger and in need of immediate, unilateral protection by presidential fiat? By labeling our fishery as an imminent threat despite our ability to keep the area pristine, these environmental groups have both ignored the facts and devalued our successful efforts to operate a sustainable fishery.

In addition, those of us who have fished sustainably and responsibly in the area for decades have had our voices almost completely shut out of this process. A prime example was the September 15 “town hall” meeting held by NOAA in Providence, Rhode Island. Hastily arranged, many fishermen who would be affected by the proposals were not even aware that it took place. Those in attendance were provided no firm details on the scope of the proposal, preventing them from commenting substantively about something that could dramatically affect or even eliminate their livelihoods. There’s no guarantee that there will be any future opportunity for those affected to voice their concerns. The Antiquities Act does not require such input, and a designation could come at any time.

Read the full opinion piece at The Hill 

House Committee Holds Hearing on Gulf Red Snapper Legislation

November 2, 2015 — While former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s eleven-hour testimony before the 17-month-old House Select Committee on Benghazi took center spotlight on Capitol Hill, the House Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans met to a packed room filled with Gulf commercial and charter-for-hire fishermen to hear public testimony on H.R. 3094, the “Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority Act” which gives Gulf States control of the red snapper fishery.

Sponsored by Louisiana Republican Representative Garret Graves, and endorsed by all five Gulf state fisheries managers, the new legislation would remove Gulf red snapper from federal management authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and place it under state management.

In his opening remarks, the bill’s author said he was convinced the Gulf states themselves could do a better job at managing red snapper than the federal government. Rep. Graves said he had repeatedly reached out to get input on the legislation from the commercial industry, but received none. However, he did thank Stan Harris, CEO of the Louisiana Restaurant Association and Board Member of the Gulf Seafood Institute, for his input.

During his opening remarks, Ranking Member Jared Huffman of California stated that the red snapper issue is as contentious as California water issues in terms of items being considered by the House Resources Committee.

The Subcommittee, chaired by Louisiana Representative John Fleming, heard testimony from seven witness including Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Executive Director Nick Wiley and David Cresson, Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), who spoke in favor of the legislation.

Read the full story at Gulf Seafood Institute

 

Commercial and Charter Fishermen Send Opposition Letter to Congress on Eve of Red Snapper Hearing

October 22, 2015 — Later today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans will hold a hearing on the Gulf States Red Snapper Management Authority Act (GSRSMA) – H.R. 3094. The bill, sponsored by Representative Garret Graves (R-LA) and originally introduced this summer, transfers management authority from the public and transparent federal process to the five Gulf states. This sets a dangerous precedent to unravel the success of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, a landmark piece of legislation.

Read the full story at The Outdoor Wire

View a PDF of the Official Statement of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance

View a PDF of the testimony of Robert F. Zales from the National Association Charterboat Operators