Juneau, AK; September 8, 2006 – Upon learning of the delay in the House of Representatives on the vote of HR 5018, sponsored by Reps Richard Pombo (R-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), and Don Young (R-AK), the Marine Conservation Alliance, coalition of seafood processors, harvesters, support industries and coastal communities that are active in Alaska fisheries, issued the following statement:
“The Marine Conservation Alliance is disappointed to hear that Congress’ vote on HR 5018, the bipartisan fisheries bill needed to strengthen fishery conservation, will be delayed. We urge Congress to continue to work on the bill, and take MSA up in November. Otherwise, the country has missed a unique opportunity to conserve our ocean resources, and preserve the health of our nation’s fisheries and fishing communities,” said David Benton, Executive Director of the Marine Conservation Alliance.
Sponsored by Reps Richard Pombo (R-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), and Don Young (R-AK), HR 5018 would update and improve the Magnuson-Stevens Act 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 would have significantly improved the nation’s fisheries management. The bill:
- 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.
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