Peter Torkildsen: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2160, the Cooperative Fisheries Management Act of 1995 reauthorizes two important fisheries laws: the…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2160, the Cooperative Fisheries Management Act of 1995 reauthorizes two important fisheries laws: the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 and the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act. Both these laws help coordinate the management of species that migrate between Federal and State waters, as well as those species migrating between neighboring States' waters. With the reauthorization of these two laws, we will provide much needed resources to States to coordinate the management of these migrating species of fish. In addition, this legislation allows the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to release disaster assistance funds in New England, the Northwest, and the Gulf of Mexico. It is important to note that these disaster assistance funds have already been appropriated and this bill only makes legislative changes to allow the money to be used in the regional assistance programs. For example, NOAA is conducting a vessel buy-out program in the Northeast to reduce fishing capacity. Currently, NOAA is limited to purchasing vessels valued under $100,000. This does not allow NOAA to buy-out the larger vessels, which tend to catch more fish, and are often valued at well over $100,000. During the pilot vessel buy-out program, over 95 percent of the 114 voluntary bids received were over $100,000.”