The following was released by the office of Senator Olympia Snowe on Dec. 17, 2009: WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today approved S. 2856, the International Fisheries Agreement Clarification Act, introduced by U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), which would strengthen management of groundfish stocks between the United States and Canada. Both passed the Committee by unanimous consent.
Senator Snowe called the Commerce Committee’s bipartisan approval of the legislation "a strong step forward in establishing sustainable, science-based management of our Nation’s ocean resources." The Senator continued "The International Fisheries Agreement Clarification Act would emphasize that the U.S.-Canada Transboudary Resource Sharing Understanding is an international agreement for the purposes of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, thereby granting fisheries managers badly-needed leeway to successfully negotiate allowable catch limits for yellowtail flounder with the Canadians. Absent the provisions in this legislation, our groundfishermen and scallopers would be at a severe competitive disadvantage.”
Summary of the Snowe legislation:
S. 2856 –The Magnuson Act permits fisheries managed under “international agreements” to have rebuilding periods that extend beyond the 10-year timeline that domestic stocks are subject to. However, the U.S. Department of State has stated the bilateral “understanding” between the U.S. and Canada fails to meet the criteria to be considered an “international agreement.” This ruling has hindered U.S. negotiations with Canada, as the 10-year timeline does not exist in Canadian law. Although Canada manages its stocks to maintain a rebuilding trajectory, their catch limits often far exceed those in the United States. The Snowe initiative would close this loophole and clarify that the U.S.-Canada Understanding should be considered an international agreement, allowing groundfish stocks to be managed effectively and sustainable for the benefit of U.S. and Canadian fishermen and consumers without jeopardizing the long-term viability of fish stocks. The Snowe initiative would close this loophole and clarify that the U.S.-Canada Understanding should be considered an international agreement, allowing groundfish stocks to be managed effectively and sustainable for the benefit of U.S. and Canadian fishermen and consumers without jeopardizing the long-term viability of fish stocks.