Political Quotes

“I rise in support of House passage of S. 39, the Sustainable Fisheries Act. This legislation reauthorizes the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 through fiscal year 1999. Mr. Speaker, as I am sure you are aware, the Magnuson Act was enacted in 1976 in direct response to the depletion of U.S. fishery resources by foreign vessels. The Magnuson Act expanded U.S. jurisdiction over fishery resources to 200 miles. The act also included provisions intended to encourage the development of a domestic fishing industry. The Magnuson Act created eight regional fishery management councils to manage the fishery resources within their geographic area. This means the councils were charged with determining the appropriate level of harvest to maximize the benefit to the Nation, while still protecting the long-term sustainability of the stocks. These councils are in the difficult position of balancing the often competing interests of commercial and recreational fishermen, and the often competing gear groups within the commercial industry. It is important to note that this legislation maintains and supports the current regional fishery management councils system. This legislation does include some reforms of the council process and requires new disclosure rules to deal with the perception of conflict of interest on the councils.”