SavingSeaFood - Oceana: Govt accused of allowing 'illegal overfishing'

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Oceana: Govt accused of allowing 'illegal overfishing'

Oceana has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court of Northern California challenging the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) approval of Amendment 13 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for fisheries that take place off California, Oregon and Washington.

Oceana, represented by Earthjustice, charged NMFS with failing to protect key species, such as Pacific sardine and anchovy, which serve as the base of the ocean food web.

The lawsuit claims NMFS fails to prevent overfishing, fails to account for the species’ ecological role when setting catch limits and fails to adequately analyze the implications of their actions.

In a press release, Oceana reminds that in 2006 Congress reauthorized and amended the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to include new requirements designed to prevent overfishing and foster more precautionary, scientifically sound management of fisheries. NMFS then revised the guidelines that govern how fishery managers set optimum catch levels and other measures to achieve these goals.

Read the complete story from Fish Information & Services

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May 18, 2012 - When the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into law in 1973 by President Nixon, he spoke about the importance of preserving “the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed.” I believe that goal is as important today as it was back then. However, after nearly 40 years, it’s time to take a fresh, honest look at the law and consider whether there are ways it could be improved to do a better job of protecting and recovering species.

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