Strengthened Magnuson-Stevens Act a Victory for Nation’s Fish Conservation
Juneau – January 12, 2007 – President Bush today signed into federal law the re-write of the Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA), the 30-year-old law regulating the U.S. fishing industry. Under the MSA, regional councils have more power to govern local fishing communities and set catch limits based on scientific and environmental advice for marine conservation.
“Passage of a reauthorized Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA) in the waning days of the 109th Congress is a major victory for Alaska and fishery conservation efforts across the nation. It is a fitting tribute to the leadership of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens,” said David Benton, executive director of the Marine Conservation Alliance.
“This bipartisan legislation will strengthen our nation’s ability to responsibly manage our fisheries for sustainability, based on sound science and an open public process,” Benton said. “It incorporates the provisions that have been so successful in making Alaska a model for fishery management and preserves the regional council process which has been the keystone to its success.”
Based largely on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s management of Alaska’s fisheries, the MSA now gives all U.S. regional councils the ability to implement the successful Alaska Model.
The new legislation’s most significant improvement requires fishery managers to set harvest caps at or below those recommended by regional scientists. This policy has been the center piece of Alaska’s conservation program.
In addition, the MSA maintains strict controls on overfishing; strengthens fishery monitoring and enforcement; establishes several provisions to protect and promote local seafood based economies in coastal communities; and keeps fisheries regulation on a regional level to allow timely and regionally relevant decisions to be made.
Originally passed in December of 1976, the MSA extended the nation’s jurisdiction from 12 to 200 miles offshore. Prior to its passage, foreign fishing fleets freely harvested huge volumes of groundfish like pollock and sole from those waters. The 200-mile limit allowed this large scale fishery to be “Americanized” and Alaskans took advantage of the opportunity. The Alaska pollock fishery is the largest fishery in the nation and Alaska now accounts for over half of America’s seafood landings.
About the Marine Conservation Alliance
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. For more information, visit www.marineconservationalliance.org.