Posted by red on 5/17/2006, 6:55 pm Today the House Resources Committee passed H.R. 5018, a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act - our nation's primary federal fisheries law. Our efforts in the run-up to the mark-up paid off in a significant way. * An amendment passed which will prohibit new fees from being imposed on recreational fishermen and boat owners. * An amendment passed which will, for the first time, will include marina owners and operators, for-hire vessels owners and operators, bait and tackle shop owners and operators in the definition of "fishing community", thereby requiring the agency to consider impacts of their regulations on such folks. The same amendment also, for the first time, defines the "recreational fishing industry" as individual anglers, boat builders, fishing tackle manufacturers, for-hires vessel owners and operators, bait and tackle shop owners and operators, and recreational marina owners and operators, which will require consideration and recognition of the jobs and economic growth generated by the recreational fishing industry. * An amendment passed which will recquire the National Marine Fisheries Service to specifically consider the economic impact of their regulations on the recreational fishing industry during the development of fishery management plans and plan amendments. The only other amendments which passed included language modifying authorities related to the Naitonal Marine Sanctuaries Act, observer fees in the North Pacific commercial fleet, Gulf Coast disaster relief, and a study on acidification in the ocean. In addition to winning passage of the above recreational-related amendments (which we requested Members to offer), the vast majority of the language we worked on with Chairman Pombo, Cong. Saxton, Cong. Gilchrest, Cong. Pallone, Cong. Abercrombie, and others was retained in the original bill. This includes language that will: * Protect anglers and the jobs that depend on them.
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Here are some informal highlights from today's congressional action:
* Requires catch levels to be set at or below the level recommended by established science and statistical committees.
* Provides flexibility to rebuild fisheries.
* Streamlines overlapping environmental laws.
* Increases the role of peer review in conservation-based decisions.
* Requires Fishery Council members to complete training courses.
* Establishes a cooperative research program to improve information flow between fishermen, scientists, and fisheries managers.
As you know, the next step is the Floor of the House of Representatives and we will continue to play a signficant role in the negotiations as the bill progresses.
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