RELIEF ON THE WAY

Congressman Pallone to Introduce Legislation to Provide Limited Flexibility in Healthy Fisheries

Seaside Heights, NJ --- Common sense legislation that will give relief to recreational anglers and the associated marine industry will be introduced by Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) on February 12, 2008.  Mr. Pallone, a senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee, will sponsor a bill which allows for limited flexibility in healthy fisheries on a positive rebuilding trend or where stocks have increased substantially. 

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act contains arbitrary and rigid rebuilding requirements.  While these provisions have spurred growth in many fisheries, at times they have unnecessarily restricted recreational anglers and have not been adaptive to the dynamic marine environment.   Top fisheries scientists and the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) made this point during testimony at a congressional hearing in December 2007.  Mr. Pallone's language would give the Secretary of Commerce the discretion to adjust rebuilding timeframes only if specific criteria are present to ensure that the conservation of such stocks continues to advance.  Limited flexibility would allow fishermen to retain access to important fisheries such as summer flounder, red snapper, gag grouper, vermillion snapper and Pacific rockfish. 

"When deciding how best to rebuild fish stocks in complex environments, we must use sound biology and science, not arbitrary deadlines set by Congress," Pallone said.  "The legislation I'm introducing in Congress is about rational rebuilding, and it is the best way to rebuild our fisheries without bankrupting tackle shops, party boats and commercial fishermen."

Anglers and recreational fishing businesses in the Mid-Atlantic involved with the summer flounder fishery have experienced firsthand the illogical nature of the current rebuilding requirements.  The 2008 summer flounder quota is the lowest since management began for this species yet the stock is at the highest level of abundance in history.  Under the current law, fishermen and the businesses they support are denied access to fisheries through lower quotas and eventual closures.  In cases such as summer flounder, the current management regime has produced results which are arbitrary, unfair and punitive.

"Based on the consistent cut in quotas in some fisheries and unattainable rebuilding goals in others, I am introducing legislation that will provide limited flexibility and will improve stock assessments by requiring more robust and thorough research," Pallone continued.

"Congressman Pallone's leadership is to be applauded for showing that it is possible to maintain conservation, continue to rebuild fish stocks and, at the same time, allow fishermen to access healthy fisheries,"  states Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the RFA.  "We are committed to working with Congressman Pallone to convey this important message to his colleagues in Congress."