LEADING U.S. SENATOR TO INTRODUCE CRITICAL FISHERIES LEGISLATION

[CaptTB]

LEADING U.S. SENATOR TO INTRODUCE CRITICAL FISHERIES LEGISLATION -
Schumer says "We can rebuild stocks & allow fishing industry to survive."
 
Washington - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) announced today that he will introduce legislation in the Senate, authored in the House by Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), that will bring much-needed science-based modernization and flexibility to the outdated federal rules currently stifling America's once thriving fishing industry.
 
"We need better science and more flexibility in our fishing management regulations. We can rebuild fishing stocks and allow for a more nuanced approach to regulations that is not overly onerous on our fishing communities," said Schumer. "Keeping our fishing stocks healthy is absolutely critical, but -- because it is based on outdated science -- the current system not only falls short of achieving this goal, but it's taking Long Island fishing community down with it," Schumer said.
 
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) as presently written requires most fisheries designated by the Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service as "overfished" be completely rebuilt within 10 years, a timeline Schumer argues is arbitrary, often too broad, not based on available science, and lacking reasonable exceptions.  The 10-year deadline has produced stringent quotas imprecisely limiting Long Island fishermen's catch, and the lack of management flexibility in the current regime prevents regulators from pursuing a more balanced approach based on the most up-to-date science.
 
Both the House and Senate bills have been crafted to allow fish stocks to rebuild while also taking consideration of the economic consequences to fishermen and fishing communities.  In the case of summer flounder or fluke, the latest assessment data released shows that the stock is not overfished and that overfishing is not occurring.  Regardless of the continued growth of the stock, which fisheries experts say is at its highest level ever in the past 40 years, rigid mandates written into MSA require that New York anglers continue to fish on tighter restrictions.  "Our legislation provides some much needed balance and flexibility within the existing system to both preserve our fishing stocks and allow fisheries to thrive and grow," Schumer added.
 
"Senator Schumer clearly recognizes the flaws in the current legislation and understands that the fishing communities on Long Island are under unnecessary stress from the current law," said Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA).  "We applaud the Senator for standing up for anglers, identifying the problem, and addressing conservation needs and socioeconomic requirements in this one critical piece of fisheries legislation."
 
Schumer cited New York's decline in summer flounder quotas as an example of how onerous regulations hit home for anglers on Long Island.  Comparing 2006 to 2009, New York suffered a 13% decline in recreational fluke quota, shrinking from 935,943 pounds in 2006 to 821,019 pounds in 2009.  Along the Mid-Atlantic Coast, the numbers are similar, yet under requirements within MSA - reauthorized by Congress in 2006 -- the regional fishery management councils have very limited exceptions to rebuild stocks to precise targets within 10 years.   
 
Because the arbitrary deadline often requires stocks to be rebuilt to unprecedented levels and must be met without regard to the impact it will have on fishing communities and related industries, Sen. Schumer said the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2009 offers a way to ease pressure on fishermen and their communities as fisheries continue to rebuild.
 
"Fluke are now estimated to be 75% rebuilt and are on a strong trend toward total rebuilt status, yet because of the way the law is currently written, regulators continue to mindlessly reduce quotas every year in an effort to meet this arbitrary deadline, with no concern about how our industry is literally being strangled out of existence," said Capt. Dennis Kanyuk, President of United Boatmen of New York. "This approach has devastated our industry, with revenue losses exceeding 60% industry wide over the last five years and greater losses expected this year. We all hope that Congress acts swiftly to pass this bill, while there is still an industry left to save."
 
"The RFA is hoping these bills are a wake-up call for other members of Congress to jump into the fray and get Magnuson fixed once and for all, and base these management decisions on science," said Donofrio.  "The arbitrary and unnecessary deadlines are based on emotional policy decisions, not science."  Donofrio explained that the limited flexibility language written into the legislation will help put fisheries management decisions back on track with scientific commitments at the federal level.
 
"RFA agrees with the Obama administration and (NOAA) Secretary Lubchenco that fisheries must be managed under science," said Donofrio, while adding "all non-scientific rebuilding provisions must be removed from Magnuson, and environmental stewards like Rep. Pallone and Sen. Schumer truly understand that."
 
Schumer stressed that the legislation would increase flexibility of quotas and allow science to determine regulations.  "It has become clear that the current law can sometimes impose unduly strict timelines for rebuilding depleted fisheries and this legislation provides a measure of flexibility in the rebuilding periods in order to keep fishing communities economically viable, without compromising the ultimate rebuilding goal," Schumer said.
 
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The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit www.joinrfa.org.

[ped579]

I won't hold my breath but it is about time I just hope it comes to pass.  The anti's will be all over this one in a heart beat.  Start writing early and often.  We can not allow this one to fall thgrough the cracks.

Thanks Capt. TB

Happy Catching

Paul

[Bucktail]

Fantastic news!  Thanks Captain Tony!

[IrishAyes]

Great post Capt Tony.

With the true science provided by the Dr hired by the SSFFF and the hard effort by the members of the SSFFF, the RFA and others, including individuals who write to their representatives in Washington, we may get the needed changes to the MS Act.

We need to continue to support these fine groups who are here for us. 

[CaptTB]

Guys, the big news here is not the specifics of the press release (you can take most of it and find it has all been said already)

The big news here is the thing that was lacking since last year......

A senate version of Pallone's bill.

[Pfishingruven]

It's about time it made it's way to the Senate!

 

[mgm]

NY Times editorial today.....the antis are at it already! I hate this newspaper, I buy it because of general news coverage, but can't stand their editorial positions 99% of the time.


NY TIMES EDITORIAL
Of Fish and Flexibility

Published: June 12, 2009

Senator Charles Schumer has introduced a bill called The Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act. Flexibility, in this case, means bending to the will of fishermen who want to keep vacuuming up depleted fish populations before they have a chance to recover.

The bill aims to help New York fishermen whose livelihoods depend on fluke and other species. To achieve this narrow objective, however, it would poke holes in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the basic law governing fishing in federal waters. The act, strengthened by Congress in 2006, imposes ambitious timetables for rebuilding fish stocks and gives scientists a say in setting limits.

It is those sensible restrictions under which the fishermen are now chafing, and which Mr. Schumer’s bill — the companion to a House measure sponsored by Frank Pallone of New Jersey — seeks to gut.

The bill would allow the government to consider the economic consequences of fishing restrictions, and prolong the deadlines for rebuilding fish stocks. It’s an understandable response to the frustration of fishing interests, like the Long Island charter and party-boat captains who say they are seeing more fluke than ever and who accuse rigid bureaucrats and misguided scientists of unfairly limiting their catch.

But the fluke fishery — to name one of many — has not yet been rebuilt. It’s getting there, but needs to complete the journey. The point of strengthening Magnuson-Stevens was to give impartial scientists, not self-interested fishermen, a greater say in deciding how many fish to take from the sea and to tighten catch limits that historically have been much too generous. The health of the oceans has never benefited from putting short-term profits ahead of long-term, sustainable fishing.

The new Magnuson-Stevens rules deserve a chance to work, without meddling. They have been mischaracterized by their opponents as arbitrary and inflexible, but in truth they have been designed to use the best available science and to be regularly re-examined and adjusted, as the evolving health of fisheries permits.

Mr. Schumer’s dedication to his fishing constituents is admirable; he has been known to speak eloquently in defense of fishermen while standing at a lectern in shirtsleeves holding up at arm’s length a dead fluke. This makes fishermen happy. But if the fish were alive and able to speak for its beleaguered brethren, it would say, with justification: Chuck, you’re killin’ us.
__________________

[IrishAyes]

What an ass the person who wrote that editorial is. If he knew the FACTS and not the CRAP that is associated with fluke regulations his opinion would be different. On second thought, I will retract that because he probably does know the CRAP that is associated with the fluke regulations and chose to overlook them. Why let facts get in the way of reasoning? 

It is time for the newspapers to report news and not try to make news. But what more do you expect from the NY Times. 

[ped579]

Left Wing Radical A$$ Holes.  I knew it would start already...

[HutchJr]

My first post at NJSaltwaterFisherman.com, appropriately enough I’m following up in a thread by one of the guys in this industry whom I respect most, Capt TB.

The following email blast was sent out to our RFA email list – to add your email to our blast, please visit www.joinrfa.org and look for the link on the left hand side (button says Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter).  Also, the following letter is now up on the homepage as well!


You are probably all too aware that the 2009 summer flounder regulations are more restrictive than they were 15 years ago. What you may not be aware of is that the current stock size is estimated to be nearly four times larger than it was in the early 1990's!  This management contradiction perfectly illustrates the failure of our nation's primary federal fisheries management law, the Magnuson Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.  Arbitrary rebuilding deadlines contained in the law restrict angler access to healthy fisheries even at times of high abundance, which defies common sense and is patently unfair to recreational anglers like us.

Legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives (H.R. 1584) by our good friend Rep. Frank Pallone that would correct the law's shortcomings and base rebuilding on science not emotion.  The Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2009 now has 18 bipartisan coastal cosponsors from Maine down through Texas, and support for this legislation is growing every day.  Last month, Senator Charles Schumer, a champion of recreational anglers from New York, introduced a companion bill (S. 1255), and together - if passed - this important federal legislation would improve how we manage our nation's fisheries and start to base our coastal conservation goals on science, not ideology.

The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is working hard on Capitol Hill to gain support for these bills. At home in New Jersey, our local legislators need to hear from fishermen, urging support this important legislation.  Garden State anglers have gotten some support for Mr. Pallone's HR 1584, as representatives John Adler, Rob Andrews and Frank LoBiondo have all signed on as co-sponsors.  Now it's time to focus our attention on Senator Frank Lautenberg who sits on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and holds jurisdiction over fisheries related issues. 

The respected senator from New York, Mr. Schumer, has already taken the lead; it's time for our New Jersey Senate leaders to jump onboard.

Click here (http://www.joinrfa.org/Press/SenatorLautenbergRFA.pdf) to download and print a letter to Senator Lautenberg, urging him to join fellow New Jersey representatives Pallone, Adler, Andrews and LoBiondo, as well as New York's Sen. Schumer, in protecting your right to fish.

Thanks for the invite to join guys, and thanks for your ongoing support of the Recreational Fishing Alliance!

[Pfishingruven]

Welcome !  Thanks for the information and all of the work you are doing.

 

[Bucktail]

What has Mr. Lautenberg's position been on this in the past (if he has stated one)?

[HutchJr]

Good question Bucktail; I wish I had an answer for you.  I'm sure if he gets a couple of hundred letters in support of the legislation, we might find a pretty positive response in the future though!

[Great American Fisherman]

No offense Hutch.  But your letter writing won't work.  Over a year and a half ago we did a huge one to Corzine and the congressman and everyone else.  All the people who wrote, including me received zero replies.  That old fool Launtenburg will not help you.  Corzine will not help you.  If Schumer is going to do something, which I seriously doubt he will (sorry Captain TB) he needs to do it now.  The ASMFS is about to close black sea bass for no reason at all.  If we lose sea bass, the Dauntless, J2, Paramount and Carolyn Ann might as well close for business.  Fall is sea bass time for those boats.  If its closed, they are done.  And personally my two week vacation which I have waited for a year for is ruined.

Write all you want, but that old bastard Lautenburg will do nothing for you.  I have the experience to prove it.  They are all in the tank for Obama and Obama not only has ruined the country with his policies, but he has appoint PEW people to organizations that are against you and I. 

It will take decades to repair this mess.  By then, the boat owners and tackle shops we know  and love will be long gone.

Good luck

[IrishAyes]

Letter writing itself may not be the answer. We need to let them know at the voting machines that wed mean business. Get rid of the ones who are against us and put new people in place.

[Great American Fisherman]

Joe,

I like you and think you are a good guy.  So please do not take this personally.  I said the same thing on the other fishing site in NJ.  Until i was blue in the face I pleaded with the members of that site to wipe the slate clean and rid ourselves of the criminal machine in NJ politics.  NOBODY LISTENED!  Andrews from South Jersey wanted to run against Launtenburg.  Andrews is a democrat.  I am a republican, but who cares.  I urged democrats to vote for Andrews who supported the now invisable Pallone.  No dice, the old fool won again.  And Hutch thinks Launtenburg will help him?  Sorry, fat chance. 

I can't believe that the United States Government is going to ruin my 2009 vacation.  A vacation that I have worked like a dog for. Tons of overtime, just so I can go.  And the governemnt is going to take it away from me.

Our tax money pays for this garbage.  And for you fisherman and hunters who voted for Obama and wanted change you can believe in.......  You got it!!!!!!  How do you like this change???

Total BS!!!!

[ped579]

What seemed to work last time at least it got us notices was to fill their e-mail boxes full of mail and their fax machines ran over with reams of paper.  What seems to work are numbers and not fancy words.  We need to start this going and have it snowball to the extent that they see we mean business once again.

E-mail and Fax everyday if you have to.  In most cases you will not get a response so don't expect one.  Out of all my outgoing messages I received only 2 responses and they were from mu local representatives.

Paul