SavingSeaFood - Magnuson-Stevens catch limit law not fishermen-friendly, say Jon Runyan, Frank Pallone

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Magnuson-Stevens catch limit law not fishermen-friendly, say Jon Runyan, Frank Pallone

WASHINGTON — A federal law designed to prevent overfishing and regrow fish stocks is hurting commercial and recreational fishing industries in New Jersey, two lawmakers told a congressional committee Thursday.

Reps. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., and Jon Runyan, R-N.J., testified before the House Natural Resources Committee about their proposals to change some provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The 35-year-old law, which Congress last updated in 2006, created eight regional fishery management councils and set yearly catch limits for various species such as black sea bass, an important species for New Jersey’s fishing industry. Industry groups say some catch limits are too stringent.

Critics also say the law’s 10-year time line to rebuild fish stocks is arbitrary. The quotas hurt the economy by preventing fishermen from catching species that have rebounded ahead of the 10-year window, they say.

Runyan accused the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of using “outdated” science in setting catch limits.

Read the complete story from My Central Jersey

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