MCA Applauds Proposed Rewrite of Magnuson Stevens Act
A newly released, bi-partisan House bill to reauthorize the landmark Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA) builds on the law’s strengths of conservation, science based fishery management and an open, public process, MCA Executive Director David Benton said today. The bill was introduced by Representative Pombo (R-CA), who was joined by Representative Don Young (R-AK), and Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass) on the bill.
The MSA, which has managed our nation’s marine fisheries since its passage in 1976, established 8 regional fishery management councils to oversee conservation and management of our nation’s fisheries. The MSA is up for reauthorization by Congress this year.
“Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) and the members of his House Resources Committee have listened closely to the public and crafted a bill that builds on the strengths of the existing law,” Benton said. “This new draft will help steer the nation’s fishery policy toward healthier oceans and sustainable fisheries. It advances a domestic industry that creates thousands of jobs and puts wholesome, healthy seafood on America’s dinner table.”
Among the key points of the House version of the MSA reauthorization bill:
- It strengthens the role of science and conservation in the setting of fishery catch quotas by requiring each council to set catch levels at or below the amount recommended by their scientific advisors. This will ensure that seafood harvests are taken in a sustainable and responsible manner;
- Maintains and strengthens the Regional Council process, a decentralized approach that puts decision making at a local level, with a fishery management process open to the public and ensuring that all voices are heard;
- Reduces regulatory gridlock by resolving differences between MSA and the National Environmental Policy Act so the two work together and not against each other; and,
- Provides the Regional Councils the tools they need to address important conservation issues like bycatch, and to work toward a more comprehensive ecosystem-based management system through expanded science and cooperative research instead of arbitrary statutory deadlines.
The House version of the Magnuson-Stevens update is similar in many respects to the bi-partisan Senate Commerce Committee version of the bill, drafted by its namesake Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI).
“The fact that we have two strong bills that both seek to strengthen the principles of conservation and scientific management of our nation’s fishery resources is a positive sign,” Benton said. “The MCA looks forward to participating in the discussions ahead to merge the concepts enshrined in these two bills and ultimate passage of a revitalized Magnuson Stevens Act later this year.”
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.