MCA Urges Passage of Bipartisan Fisheries Bill, HR 5018
The Marine Conservation Alliance (MCA) is urging Congress to pass HR 5018 during its ongoing September session, according to MCA Executive Director David Benton.
“HR 5018 would put into law the successful practices used in Alaska to protect ocean resources. Congress can take a positive step toward better conservation of the nation’s fish stocks and promoting the economies of coastal fishing communities by enacting HR 5018,” Benton said. “This bipartisan bill represents a major advance that strengthens the role of science to ensure America’s fisheries are a sustainable and reliable source of seafood.”
Sponsored by Reps Richard Pombo (R-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), and Don Young (R-AK), HR 5018 would update and improve MSA by expanding the role of science in fishery management and taking other steps to protect fish stocks and regulate the industry. The bill adopts many of the recommendations made by the US Commission on Ocean Policy last year.
To a large extent, the Pombo bill is modeled after the fishery management successes off the coast of Alaska. Alaska produces over 50% of the nation’s fish with no overfished stocks. By adopting the “Alaska model” nationwide, a number of key provisions will significantly improve the nation’s fisheries management:
- Requires regional fishery management councils to set annual catch limits at or below levels recommended by its scientists;
- Ends overfishing in 2 years;
- Encourages councils to move toward ecosystem-based fishery management plans;
- Authorizes councils to develop incentives for reducing bycatch;
- Includes provisions to protect seabirds and reduce seabird interactions with fishing gear;
- Supports cooperative research to address issues such as bycatch, seabird interactions and habitat protection;
- Allows better data collection through enhanced observer programs and a high-tech vessel monitoring system to ensure that conservation rules are followed at sea.
“We strongly urge Congress to approve the bipartisan House legislation,” Benton said. “When passed, our nation’s fish stocks would be better protected, fishing ports on both coasts would benefit from healthy, sustainable fisheries, and the American consumer would be assured a stable source of healthy, tasty seafood.”
The Marine Conservation Alliance is a coalition of seafood processors, harvesters, support industries and coastal communities that are active in Alaska fisheries. The MCA represents approximately 75 percent of the participants in Alaska shellfish and groundfish fisheries and promotes science-based conservation measures to ensure sustainable fisheries in Alaska.
www.marineconservationalliance.org