Network Seeks National Standards to Protect Fish and Fishermen

ARCHIVED 2002–2016: Originally distributed via the eWire press wire service. Preserved as historical record.

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE |

Conservation & Wildlife

Corporate Responsibility

Science & Technology

Syndication Partners

**************************************************************************

E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE

**************************************************************************

Network Seeks National Standards to Protect Fish and Fishermen

Senate Bill on Individual Fishing Quota Programs Could Privatize Public Fisheries

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, May. 2 -/E-Wire/-- Three members of the Marine Fish Conservation Network testified today to urge Congress to protect both fish and fishermen in legislation, which would set national standards on Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) programs, which give certain fishermen an exclusive share of the catch.

The testimony was presented today at the first hearing on S. 637, "The IFQ Act of 2001, before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries." Presiding was Subcommittee Chair, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who introduced the bill with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

"The IFQ Act of 2001 is a good start," testified Lee Crockett, Executive Director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network. "The standards contained in this bill would go a long way toward protecting the public's interest, if an IFQ program were established in a fishery. However, if a national IFQ program is set up, then explicit legislative standards are necessary to protect the marine environment, fishermen and fishing communities." Crockett urged that the bill "be improved with language providing greater specificity and accountability."

IFQ programs, such as those the IFQ Act would authorize, are controversial because they allow privatization of a public resource. They parcel out shares of a particular fishery, or exclusive privileges to fish there, to a limited number of individuals, including companies. Supporters promote IFQs as a way to address the growing number of overfished species by reducing the number of vessels fishing.

"Reducing the number of fishing vessels has not historically led to a reduction in fish caught since the remaining vessels simply increase their catches," said Gerry Leape, Marine Program Director of the National Environmental Trust, a Network Member. "Without national mandatory conservation standards requiring greater protection of fish and their habitats, IFQ programs are more likely to impede conservation efforts, rather than enhance them."

The bill contains language requiring that IFQ programs promote "sustainable management of the fishery," without defining what that means. The Network recommends IFQ programs be required both to meet all of the conservation requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the primary U.S. laws governing marine fisheries, and to provide additional conservation benefits to the fishery. Crockett said the bill should "guard against overfishing, buffer against scientific uncertainty, reduce bycatch, and protect essential fish habitat and the ecosystem. Additionally, an independent review of the program is necessary to insure conservation is enhanced."

Fishermen in traditional, small-scale fisheries fear IFQs would allow big companies to squeeze them out of their livelihood or take their boats and employ them as hired hands, which has happened in some cases where IFQ programs have been tried without the safeguards the Network is advocating.

"While I do not favor IFQs in principle, Senator Snowe's bill presents a good compromise, because it seeks to address many of my concerns," said Pat White, Executive Director of the Maine Lobsterman's Association. "I support the bill as written, and would be open to changes that strengthen it, while still protecting fishermen and their communities." White and Linda Behnken, of the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association, are both members of the Network, and testified along with Crockett at the hearing.

The IFQ bill does contain requirements to provide fair and equitable allocation of quota shares, a directive to minimize negative social and economic impacts on coastal communities, a five-year limit on quota shares, which it also makes revocable, and a prohibition to "prevent any person or entity from acquiring an excessive share of individual quotas issues for the fishery." However, the Network urges Congress to create more explicit review and renewal or reallocation procedures, and to define "excessive share" in the statute to not exceed 1% of the total quota shares.

"Our fish populations are in trouble," said Kim Davis, Fish Conservation Program Director, Center for Marine Conservation, also a Network member group. "IFQ programs could be helpful in the management of some fisheries and should be allowed, but only after protective national standards are in place. We want to ensure that IFQ programs actually promote conservation in order to provide a healthier future for our fish populations -- and the fisheries that depend upon them. The Snowe bill is a good start."

The Network's seven proposed legislative standards for the IFQ Act of 2001:

* No Compensable Property Right

* IFQ Shareholders Must Provide Additional Conservation Benefits to the Fishery

* Provide Protection for Individual Fishermen and Fishing Communities

* Provide Additional Conservation Benefits to the Fishery

* Conduct Independent Review of IFQ Programs and Shareholders

* Ensure Recovery of Costs

* Reserve a Portion of the Catch to Protect Ecosystems

* Lee R. Crockett, Executive Director, Marine Fish Conservation Network

* Patten White, Executive Director, Maine Lobsterman's Association (a Network member group)

* Linda Behnken, Executive Director, Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association (a Network member)

* Joseph T. Plesha, General Counsel, Trident Seafoods Corporation

* Harlan Kay Williams, Chairman, Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council

* Don Giles, President, Icicle Seafoods

* Dr. Michael K. Orbach, Professor of the Practice of Marine Affairs and Policy, Duke University

* Dr. Jon Sutinen, Dept. of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, University of Rhode Island

NOTE: The hearing will be audio-cast live at http://commerce.senate.gov.

It takes place 9:30 AM in Room 253 Russell Senate Office Building, Delaware & Constitution NE, Washington, D.C., and is open to the public. Members of the media are invited to interview Lee Crockett and other leaders of MFCN member organizations. Contact the Network at (202) 543-5509 or visit www.conservefish.org.

Marine Fish Conservation Network is a national coalition of more than 100 environmental organizations, commercial and recreational fishing associations, and marine science groups dedicated to promoting the long-term sustainability of marine fisheries, representing nearly 5 million people.

Marine Fish Conservation Network

http://www.conservefish.org

**************************************************************************

To Transmit Your News Over E-Wire, visit http://www.ewire.com or

call 1-[REDACTED-PHONE]. E-Wire Is Broadcast To Millions Of Readers Worldwide

**************************************************************************