U.S. commercial fishing group Seafood Harvesters of America on Monday urged members of Congress to “do no harm” to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), which is up for reauthorization.
Organization President Chris Brown, a commercial fisherman in Rhode Island, says fishing allocations should be based on the best available science, not “arbitrary deadlines.”
Here is the statement in full:
With another week to go until members of Congress return to Washington, the Harvesters are speaking out about proposed changes to the law that governs America’s commercial fisheries. While the second draft re-authorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, put out by Senator Mark Begich and Senator Marco Rubio, addressed some of our concerns, our greatest concern remains: reallocation mandates setting a dangerous precedent for coastal communities across the country.
As we expressed in our comment, we support our compatriots in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions in opposing the draft’s 5-year reallocation mandate on fishing privileges. The Harvesters believe those who want more access to fishery resources should be responsible for sustaining our fishery stocks. Reallocating these resources to recreational users, who do not adhere to the same accountability and data collection requirements as the commercial fishing industry, would be a step backward in ensuring that American-caught seafood makes its way to millions of American consumers.
Fishing allocations should be based on thorough scientific analysis, as determined by regional fishery management councils, not dictated by arbitrary political deadlines. Southeast Alaska serves as an excellent example of strong accountability and cooperation between both commercial and recreational fishermen. There, halibut recreational charter and commercial fishermen must report their catches through an effective quota system, which are accounted for in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC). So we are calling for a phased in approach for a recreational sport fishery harvest data collection plan in regions where recreational harvest accountability can be improved.
We urge you to join us in speaking out to your own Senators and Representatives. Tell them that the current law should be kept largely intact because it is working extraordinarily well and is a statute all Americans can be proud of. And when they return, we will continue working to make sure they are listening.
In unity for thriving fisheries,
Chris Brown
President
