What's New
Congress approved the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (H.R. 5946) in late December 2006. The bill
mandates an end to overfishing starting in 2010, the first important step
toward rebuilding many of our depleted fish populations. Overfishing refers to
catching fish faster than they can grow and reproduce. And if left unchecked,
overfishing can deplete fish populations to below 10 or 20% of their historic
size. The bill requires that decisions by regional fishery councils, which make
decisions about how much fish can be caught, be based on the findings of their
science advisors rather than on the self-interest of members of the councils.
The bill also requires that fish management plans contain accountability
measures so that there is some consequence if too many fish are caught.
The challenge now is to turn the general language of the new law into detailed
rules that the fishery managers have to follow when setting annual catch limits
for commercial and recreational fishermen. Making sure that the National Marine
Fisheries Service formulates good rules despite pressure from industry and the
regional fishery management councils will take vigilance from Environment
America and citizens interested in the health of our oceans.
Background
Ocean ecosystems are vital, awe-inspiring and
vulnerable places. When fish stocks fall, it has profound negative effects on
the rest of the ocean’s animals like whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other
fish. And when we deplete stocks past the point of recovery, we risk losing
important fish species and the jobs that go with them. That’s why Environment
California opposes powerful fishing interests that resist catch limits that
would protect our ocean ecosystem.
Unfortunately, destructive overfishing has already jeopardized many fish
species. A recent report by the National Marine Fisheries Service to Congress
shows that for all federally managed fish stocks for which there is adequate
information, one in four are depleted to less than 20 percent of their
historical populations. Some are at 5 to 10 percent of their historical levels.
Environment California
is working to save our oceans from overfishing by setting strong rules, called
National Fishing Standard 1, which will determine for the next decade how
commercial and recreational fishing in the ocean is conducted. In order to do
the job, the new rules must set numerical annual catch limits at levels that
minimize the possibility of overfishing, set catch levels no higher than
recommended by independent scientific councils, and impose penalties for
exceeding the limits.
