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Press Release- Sen. Olympia snowe (Maine)
Weds. March 3rd, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard hearing on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s FY 2011 Budget and Fisheries Enforcement Programs and Operations, Ranking Member Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) urged Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fully examine the economic impact the agency’s fishery management and law enforcement policies have on the American fishing industry and take action to rectify the adverse affects of onerous regulations.
“I am deeply troubled that this budget for 2011 does not put nearly enough emphasis on providing an investment in sound fisheries science so our regulators are not force to use insufficient data to make decisions that affect lives, jobs, and entire coastal communities. This is precisely the situation that we have seen play out in Prospect Harbor with the closing of the Bumble Bee sardine cannery. Better science would have save those jobs,” said Senator Snowe. “Clearly, what is called for here is a dose of reality in Washington and some attention to the implications on the ground of these decisions.”
Snowe went on to blast today’s announcement by the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, that it would support a petition by Monaco to list bluefin tuna as an endangered species under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Flora and Fauna (CITES). Senator Snowe said the reckless decision will ultimately prove ineffectual and cause disproportionate harm to the U.S. bluefin tuna fishery.
“Even though our fishermen have operated under the strongest conservation measures in the world, if this CITES listing is approved they will have to pay the price for all the other bad actors’ failure to control harvest levels,” said Senator Snowe. “This egregious decision creates a perverse incentive for our domestic bluefin tuna fishery and other Nations. I fail to see the logic in supporting a policy that will penalize our fishermen for their contributions to the long-term sustainability of this critical species.”
Last month, Senator Snowe spearheaded a letter with 14 of her House and Senate colleagues to Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Thomas Strickland, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, asking them not to support a proposal by the principality of Monaco to list bluefin tuna under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Flora and Fauna (CITES). During today’s hearing, Senator Snowe called on NOAA to implement policies that will mitigate the adverse impact of onerous regulations on the American fishing industry.
“At a time when fishermen and women are trying to eke out a living in this industry, this ruling ought to be a big reality check for everyone,” continued Senator Snowe. “The Fish and Wildlife Service’s press release says ‘we understand fishermen’s frustration’ but they really don’t. It is imperative NOAA and the Fish and Wildlife Service take swift action to develop and implement a mitigation effort that will ease the financial burden this ruling will impose.”
Senator Snowe went on to further criticize NOAA for the egregious mismanagement by the Office of Law Enforcement for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and highlighted a recent report by the U.S. Department of Commerce Inspector General, which demonstrated systemic nationwide issues adversely affecting NOAA’s ability to regulate the fishing industry. In addition, the report found that these same issues have “contributed significantly to a…dysfunctional relationship between NOAA and the fishing industry – particularly in the northeast.”
“I was stunned by the IG’s report revealing the magnitude of the management problem regarding law enforcement on the fishing community – in particular in the Northeast region,” said Senator Snowe. “It was horrifying, frankly, to learn of the disproportionate treatments within the industry, which have resulted in devastating consequences for fishermen and it is vital for NOAA to take immediate action to change these policies.”
Dr. Lubchenco pledged to continue to work with Senator Snowe and resolve the issues facing the fishing industry and agrees to implement new policies that will better take into consideration the economic impact of regulations and rulings.
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