Ocean Fish Conservation
On May 23, U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), who chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources, introduced legislation (H.R. 4742). This bill is to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. That’s most notably the primary law governing management of U.S. ocean fish.
For today, less than a week later, his committee will vote on the bill. And the outcome of this vote could have wide repercussions for all of those who depend on vibrant, healthy ocean fisheries.
Ocean Fish Conservation: Magnuson – Stevens Act
First of all, the Magnuson-Stevens Act was reauthorized in 1996 and as well in 2006. For policymakers also added strong conservation provisions to end overfishing. For it requires sharing plans to rebuild depleted stocks. Essentially in as short of time as possible. That’s in addition to also incorporate science-based annual catch limits.
These efforts certainly enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress. In addition, it was enacted with active participation from the Clinton and Bush administrations. Because of these changes, 34 depleted U.S. fish populations have been rebuilt since 2000.
Hastings Bill becomes Empty Oceans Act
Unfortunately, the Hastings bill, which some have nicknamed the “Empty Oceans Act”. It also backslides on key conservation principles in current law. Among other concerns, it would:
- Cripple the recovery of vulnerable fish populations with broad loopholes for setting reasonable rebuilding plan timelines;
- Put the fishing industry-dominated councils in charge of evaluating and minimizing environmental impacts (instead of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service);
- Limit opportunities for the public to participate in helping ensure decisions are well-informed;
- Create exemptions from setting science-based catch limits for many fish important to the ocean food web;
- Undercut the authority over U.S. ocean fisheries of other key environmental statutes, including the Endangered Species Act; and
- Fail to incorporate ecosystem-based fishery management approaches into the law.
Reject the Bill Says Pew Charitable Trusts
Congress should reject this shortsighted bill, and instead should advance an ecosystem-based fisheries management approach that protects ocean habitat, reduces wasteful incidental catch of nontarget species (also known as bycatch), accounts for the important role of forage fish in the ocean food web, and requires ecosystem planning to enhance the resilience of ocean ecosystems. These advancements will better enable our oceans—which face a changing climate, habitat loss, and other stresses—to support abundant fish populations and coastal communities.
Finally, instead of rolling back conservation provisions that are working to rebuild fish populations after decades of overfishing, we should most definitely build upon the act’s recent successes. And I also encourage all who are concerned about it to urge their member of Congress to oppose this bill.
Ted Morton directs federal oceans policy for The Pew Charitable Trusts.
