For Immediate Release: July 26, 2021
Contact: Ben Martens, 207-619-1755; ben@mainecoastfishermen.org
Fishing Communities Coalition Applauds Introduction of
MSA Reauthorization Bill after Thorough Process
Community Fishermen Praise Chairman Huffman for
Thoughtful Approach to Reauthorization
Today, the Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC) applauded Chairman Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Congressman Ed Case (D-HI) for introducing the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act, a comprehensive bill reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). This introduction comes after a thorough stakeholder engagement process, which included a listening tour of U.S. fishery regions that tapped into the expertise of fishermen and other ocean stakeholders to assess management challenges and priorities, including how to improve the health of our oceans and fisheries and how to address the effects of climate change.
"Rep. Huffman’s Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization, which was based on comprehensive engagement with stakeholders, earns its place as one of the more balanced fisheries management bills in decades,” said Linda Behnken, Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, a member of the FCC. “The bill recognizes that climate change must become integral to ocean governance and expands protections for Essential Fish Habitat, both critically important changes that are long overdue. The oceans are changing rapidly, and management must be both responsive to change and broadly protective of fisheries habitat to ensure the long-term productivity of our nation’s fisheries and the economic health of our fishing communities. We applaud this important legislation.
Originally enacted in 1976, the MSA is the primary federal law governing America’s fisheries, and has proven successful in preventing overfishing and rebuilding badly depleted fish stocks through responsible science-based fisheries management. The FCC strongly supports the approach Congressman Huffman, Chair of the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee, and Congressman Case have taken to reauthorizing this keystone law, and in fact offered testimony and put forward witnesses in several roundtable discussions.
According to Eric Brazer, Deputy Director of FCC Member Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders Alliance, “Chairman Huffman came to the Gulf of Mexico and heard loud and clear that commercial fishermen care about the health of our oceans, the integrity of the scientific process, the need for fair and balanced stakeholder participation, the pride we take in sustainability, and our obligation to accountability. Our oceans may be dynamic, but the core tenets of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act are not – strong, credible science; accountability for all; adherence to catch limits; and a seat at the table for proactive commercial fishermen that are interested in real solutions. We thank Chairman Huffman for his commitment to these priorities and the men and women who go to sea every day to support their families and feed this nation, and we look forward to continuing to work with him on this bill.”
“I’m proud to join Chair Huffman in introducing this landmark reauthorization of our nation’s Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act,” stated Congressman Ed Case. “This reauthorization provides critical updates to ensure the long-term sustainability of our fisheries by integrating climate change as a critical consideration. I’m especially pleased that this bill includes significant reforms to promote accountability, transparency and representation for our nation’s fisheries management councils. These councils are charged with the stewardship of our fisheries, a precious natural resource that all Americans have a vital interest in protecting for long-term sustainability. These are long overdue and necessary reforms to ensure long-term public trust in the work that these councils are doing on behalf of our nation.”
In addition to supporting the process undertaken to craft this legislation, the FCC strongly supports several sections within the text, including measures to increase accountability and transparency, strengthen conservation standards, address climate change, and support fishing communities. The FCC is encouraged by this introduction, and looks forward to continuing to engage as the bill moves forward, ensuring that supporting and strengthening fishing communities and our nation’s working waterfronts remains a priority.
“Commercial fishing has changed a lot in 15 years, and we are thankful Chairman Huffman listened to industry members across the country to find out what changes in the preeminent fisheries legislation would benefit fish, fishermen and the ocean ecosystem,” said John Pappalardo, CEO of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance. “We are pleased to see that many of our members concerns, including greater accountability, further emphasis on science, a robust framework to meet the challenges of climate change and a funding stream to protect the working waterfronts that are a crucial part of the economy – and a vital, healthy, sustainable, delicious food supply – were included.”
“Americans coast-to-coast depend on healthy oceans and fisheries, whether it’s the seafood we eat, time spent on the water as recreational anglers, or the economic engine supporting working waterfronts and coastal communities. We know that the MSA has worked well, but new approaches are needed in this era of climate change, new technologies, evolving science needs, and increasing ocean use,” said Rep. Huffman. “Through our stakeholder-driven, science-based approach, we have crafted legislation that rises to the challenges of the 21st Century and includes critical updates to this landmark law. With the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act, we can strengthen fishing communities and ensure a high standard of sustainable fisheries management continues well into the future. I am committed to continuing to work with stakeholders and my colleagues as we move this legislation forward.”