July 12, 2019 — Congressman Jeff Van Drew, D-2nd, joined Alaskan Congressman Don Young, a Republican, to introduce a bill reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation Management Act on Thursday.
But the bill would make changes to the law that some environmentalists fear may result in taking more fish than is sustainable.
Among other things, the reauthorization would change how fishery councils determine fishery stock rebuilding timeframes, giving the public a greater role in the development of science and fishery management plans.
The fisheries legislation was first written by Young in 1975, according to Van Drew’s office, and was last reauthorized in 2006.
In a statement, Van Drew said H.R. 3697 “ensures that we have healthy fisheries, keep anglers in the water and keep fishermen fishing.”