The following is taken from a press release:
WASHINGTON – Thirteen members of the House and Senate representing northeastern coastal states met today with Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco to express their unified opposition to new regulations on the fishing industry.
The meeting came in response to a request by the legislators and their colleagues, who on April 21st issued a strongly-worded letter to Secretary Locke regarding the new regulations.
The regulations would impose a new way of determining how the total allowable annual fish catch is tabulated and divided among members of the fishing industry. At the same time, it would dramatically reduce the overall amount of different species of fish that can be caught in a single year. Implementing a new catch shares system while simultaneously slashing overall limits is likely to impose severe economic costs on the fishing industry.
The Members released the following joint statement:
“We would like to express to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke our strong disagreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service scheduled implementation of 2010 catch limits, which would impose sharp reductions from 2009 allocation limits. We unanimously believe that the catch limits for so-called “choke stocks,” including yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, and pollock must be increased. In addition, we call on the Administration to provide economic assistance to the fishing industry during this crisis, and to require cooperative research efforts to ensure fair assessments of fish stocks.”