My continued hope for DAMA is that this meeting of minds sets a precedent and tone for a broader promise.

There is a certain amount of subjectivity involved in this as we all recognize.

We would rather see people say we either want it and we want to work with you to help develop it or we don't.

We need to be able to protect ourselves if we don't want a catch share program, and we do not have the luxury of a vote.

I urge my colleagues to support sound science and resource management, by supporting H.R. 2304, the Fishery Science Improvement Act.

These goals can and must be achieved without one goal overriding the other.

H.R. 2772 is simple. It extends the referendum vote on catch share programs throughout the entire Atlantic Coast and Gulf and closes down a new catch share program if it puts 15 percent or more of the fishermen out of business.

The commercial and recreational fishing industries are vitally important to our nation's struggling economy.

Poor outdated science, overly cautious decision making, and top down flawed fishery management plans have all conspired to drive many of our struggling fishermen out of business.

Poor, outdated science, overly cautious decisionmaking and top down flawed fishery management plans have all conspired to drive many of our struggling fishermen out of business.

Requiring the Secretary of Commerce to rule on fishery disasters within 60 days, this will help to provide disaster relief to a fishing community in a timely fashion.