WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), the Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard, today hailed the announcement of several key decisions by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to benefit New England’s embattled groundfishery. In a letter to members of New England’s Congressional delegation released today, Secretary Locke agreed with the position long espoused by Senator Snowe and other members of the delegation that the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act gives him the authority to take economic factors into account when determining whether to take emergency action and raise catch limits on fish stocks. The letter also included an endorsement of the International Fisheries Agreement Clarification Act (S. 2856)—a bill which Senator Snowe introduced that would allow higher catch limits for certain fish populations the U.S. manages jointly with Canada—and it contained an announcement of the dedication of an additional $15 million this year to fisheries stock assessments and cooperative research programs.
“Today’s announcement by the Secretary is a welcome endorsement of priorities I have long identified as integral to the future success of the groundfishery. The Secretary’s ability to increase catch limits in the event of an emergency is clearly delineated in the law, and while it is unfortunate this recognition has taken so long to achieve, today’s action still provides the Administration sufficient time to make changes that can reap significant benefits for the fishery this year without compromising the long-term sustainability of our groundfish stocks,” said Senator Snowe. “Furthermore, I am heartened by Secretary Locke’s recognition of the need to acknowledge the international nature of this fishery by endorsing my legislation, the International Fisheries Agreement Clarification Act. This bill would give our managers the tools they have lacked to negotiate rational, science-based catch limits with Canada and ensure a healthy future for this fishery on both sides of the international boundary line.”
Earlier this year, Snowe led letters to the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting an additional investment in fisheries stock assessments and cooperative research funding. These calls were heeded in part by Secretary Locke’s announcement of an additional $15 million for those purposes.
“Until we have better science providing a foundation from which we can build fisheries management plans and establish accurate, defensible catch limits all stakeholders can trust, industry members and regulators will never see eye-to-eye on policy decisions,” added Senator Snowe. “This investment in additional stock assessments will provide fishermen and managers alike with a greater degree of confidence. Meanwhile, funding for cooperative research will not only help rebuild relationships, but also boost our economy and provide jobs for fishermen who would otherwise be unable to work.”
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