The following is taken from a press release:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Barney Frank, along with twelve other members of the House and Senate, 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 House and Senate representatives of northeastern coastal states, 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 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 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.
“I am deeply disappointed and upset about what the National Marine Fisheries Services is planning to do regarding the new catch share limits,” said Congressman Barney Frank. “I will make it clear to the Obama administration that it is essential to raise the limits, particularly on all of the “choke stock” fish, in order to avoid an economic disaster in the fishing industry in the midst of what is already an economic recession. I will continue to work on a bipartisan basis with my colleagues to make it clear that this situation is unacceptable, and will tell the administration that failing to act will be damaging to our relationship.”
The Congressional delegation attending today’s meeting 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.”