Political Quotes

“America's fisheries are as important to our coastal communities as agriculture is to the Nation's breadbasket. From New England and the mid-Atlantic to the gulf coast and vast Pacific, America's fisheries contribute $185 billion to our Nation's wealth, help drive the economy of coastal communities, create jobs for harvesters and processing workers, and provides the Nation a source of healthy, sustainable--and tasty--seafood. That is especially true in my home State, Alaska, which accounts for over 55 percent of the Nation's seafood landings, boasts 5 of the top 10 fishing ports in the Nation, and is the State's largest private sector employer, creating jobs that are spread from the largest cities to the smallest rural villages. Alaska seafood can be found from the Nation's finest white tablecloth restaurants to your neighborhood fast food outlet. And Alaska has harvested this resource in a sustainable manner. Alaska stocks are managed under strict scientific guidelines. None of these species is considered overfished. Fisheries elsewhere across our Nation face serious challenges from overfishing, habitat loss, climate change, and other factors, which is why Congress recently strengthened the conservation and management provisions in reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation Act to end overfishing, reduce bycatch and improve science-based management of our fisheries.”