An unusually large group of members of the U.S. House and Senate met with Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to discuss what the Members decribed as an impending crisis of new regulations on the ground fishing industry. The delegation represented the northeast coastline from Maine to Long Island.
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WASHINGTON, May 12, 2010 (Saving Seafood) — Thirteen Members of the U.S. House and Senate met with Commerce Secretary Locke, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator of NOAA, and Eric Schwaab, Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and asked that he exercise Secretarial authority under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and implement emergency regulations to increase the 2010 annual catch limits (ACL) for certain fish stocks in the groundfishery.
The Senate and House Members voiced strong disagreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implementation of 2010 catch limits. The 2010 limits represent a sharp reduction from 2009 allocation limits.
The members agreed that the catch limits for so-called “choke stocks,” including yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, and pollock must be increased.
In addition, the Senators and Members of Congress called on the Obama Administration to provide economic assistance to the fishing industry, including ancillary and shore-side businesses, and to require cooperative research efforts to ensure future assessments of fish stocks that are fairer and more credible to industry.
The Secretary agreed to fast-track allocation changes on Pollock, Skate, Red Crab and Dogfish. Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) raised concerns about Winter Flounder. Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) raised concerns about Yellowtail Flounder. The Secretary did not commit to changes on those species.
Congressman Frank told Saving Seafood "I have personally made it very clear to high ranking members of the administration including Secretary Locke that my relationship with the administration will be affected by whether or not they respond to this absolutely urgent need for an increase."
In a prepared statement, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) said "Our message was unmistakable: increase catch limits on the ‘choke stocks’ that are otherwise sure to close down this fishery. Yet, I find it patently unacceptable that despite NMFS’s scientists own admissions that their data was insufficient to make policy recommendations for some stocks, beyond a previously announced commitment to revisit the catch limit for pollock, we did not receive any assurances that other choke stocks would be addressed"
ATTENDEES:
Congressman Barney Frank
Congressman Joe Courtney
Congressman Tim Bishop
Congresswoman Shea-Porter
Congreesman John Tierney
Congressman Langevin
Senator Gillibrand
Senator Snowe
Senator Kerry
Senator Scott Brown
Senator Schumer
Senator Shaheen
Senator Reed
Senator Whitehouse