# Ocean Fish Conservation: Protecting Vital Sea Life

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/06/ocean-fish-conservation-protecting-vital-sea-life/
- Published: 2014-06-13T00:42:53-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## Ocean Fish Conservation

On May 23, U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), who chairs the House Committee on Natural
Resources, introduced [legislation](https://web.archive.org/web/20180924081819/https://naturalresources.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hr4742hastings.pdf)(
H.R. 4742). This bill is to amend [the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act](https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2013/05/06/the-law-thats-saving-american-fisheries-the-magnusonstevens-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.

![Dramatic efficiencies in fishing methods and gear have led to a tragic consequence:
wasteful exploitation of sea life vital to the ocean ecosystem and human food security.](
https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/focus-fisheries-
cod-585-mfk013011.jpg?resize=300%2C179&ssl=1)

Dramatic efficiencies in fishing methods and gear have led to a tragic consequence:
wasteful exploitation of sea life vital to the ocean ecosystem and human food security.

## 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](https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact-sheets/2014/05/22/making-progress-in-ending-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](https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/data-visualizations/2013/restoring-our-nations-ocean-fish).

### Hastings Bill becomes Empty Oceans Act

Unfortunately, the Hastings bill, [which some have nicknamed the “Empty Oceans Act”](https://ipv6.google.com).
It also backslides on key [conservation principles in current law](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/11/migratory-bird-hunt-violates-conservation-laws/).
Among other concerns, it would:

 1. Cripple the recovery of vulnerable fish populations with broad loopholes for setting
    reasonable rebuilding plan timelines;
 2. Put the fishing [industry](https://greenlivingguy.com/2009/12/sylvia-earle-protects-oceans-through-community-action/)-
    dominated councils in charge of evaluating and minimizing [environmental impacts](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/02/gulf-fish-found-suffering-from-broken-hearts/)(
    instead of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service);
 3. Limit opportunities for the public to participate in helping ensure decisions are
    well-informed;
 4. Create exemptions from setting science-based catch limits for many fish important
    to the [ocean food web](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/food-web/);
 5. Undercut the authority over U.S. ocean fisheries of other key environmental statutes,
    including the Endangered Species Act; and
 6. Fail to incorporate [ecosystem-based fishery management](https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/fact-sheets/2014/03/20/ecosystembased-fisheries-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](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/01/fisheries-commission-blind-to-bigeye-fate/)
management approach that [protects ocean habitat](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-bottom-line-protectin_b_4338050),
reduces wasteful incidental catch of nontarget species ([also known as bycatch](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-abcs-of-ecosystem-bas_b_5322469)),
accounts for the important role of [forage fish](https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2014/04/22/the-abcs-of-ecosystem-based-fisheries-management-part-ii/)
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](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/02/gulf-fish-found-suffering-from-broken-hearts/)
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. _

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
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