*EPF515 10/12/01
Text: Coalition Report Says U.S. Fisheries Not Being Protected
(Calls on Congress to strengthen nation's fisheries management law) (1290)

A report by the Marine Fish Conservation Network says the destruction of U.S. fish habitat and decimation of fish populations continues five years after Congress ordered the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to restore U.S. fish stocks to healthy levels.

An October 11 press release says the report, entitled "Caught in the Act," chronicles the NMFS's lack of action to implement the 1996 Sustainable Fisheries Act -- an amendment to the nation's primary fisheries management law, the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

The amended law directed the NMFS -- the agency that oversees fishing in federal waters -- and its eight regional management councils to, among other things, prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks, minimize the catching and killing of unwanted ocean wildlife (known as bycatch), and minimize adverse effects to designated essential fish habitat.

The Marine Fish Conservation Network, a coalition of environmentalists, fishermen and scientists, says that the regional councils have largely ignored the law's mandate to reform fisheries management, and that six of the eight councils have failed to even adequately define overfishing, "a basic parameter needed to do their job."

The coalition asserts that a record number of federally managed fish stocks are now in jeopardy from overexploitation, including 31 species that are at risk of extinction.

The coalition's report urges Congress to eliminate loopholes and strengthen the Magnuson-Stevens Act with science and conservation provisions that stop overfishing, stop the wasteful killing of non-target ocean wildlife, protect fish habitat from destructive fishing gear and practices, and provide funding to improve research and reporting.

The report comes at a time when bills are making their way through Congress to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

The coalition's full report is available at the following Web site: www.conservefish.org

Following is the text of the press release:

(begin text)

Oct. 11, 2001

Marine Fish Conservation Network

Five Years Since Congress Mandated U.S. Fisheries Reform, New Report Finds Anticipated Recovery Stymied by Mismanagement

Rare Success Stories of Science and Aggressive Conservation Offer Hope

WASHINGTON (Oct. 11, 2001) - Five years after Congress ordered the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to restore U.S. fish stocks to healthy levels -- mismanagement prevails. A new report provides further evidence that our fisheries crisis is escalating. A record number of federally managed fish stocks are now in jeopardy from overexploitation, including 31 species that are at risk of extinction, while poor federal management and legal loopholes skirt the problem.

The report "Caught in the Act," released today by the Marine Fish Conservation Network, a coalition of environmentalists, fishermen, and scientists, chronicles NMFS's failures in implementing the 1996 Sustainable Fisheries Act. Under the law, NMFS and its eight management councils were directed to: prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks; report and minimize the catching and killing of unwanted ocean wildlife, also known as bycatch; and designate essential fish habitat for all federally managed fish species and minimize adverse effects of fishing on those habitats.

Today marks the five-year anniversary of the Sustainable Fisheries Act becoming law. According to the new Marine Fish Conservation Network report, the eight regional councils charged with the responsibility have largely ignored the Act's mandate to reform fisheries management. Six of the eight councils have failed to even adequately define overfishing, a basic parameter needed to do their jobs. And one, the Caribbean Council, just submitted its first conservation plan to eliminate overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks and minimize bycatch - three years after the original Sustainable Fisheries Act deadline.

The few cases where sound science and aggressive conservation measures have been allowed to work clearly demonstrate that aggressive conservation measures produce results, and that disparate parties can be brought together to solve problems. For example, closing large portions of Georges Bank in 1995 was a bold move and an unpopular decision at the time. But fishermen, conservationists and managers alike are pleased today that some groundfish, like yellowtail flounder, have rebuilt and others are rebuilding. "Caught in the Act" applauds this success story and other best practices throughout the report. Sadly, they are the exception and not the rule.

"Congress was very clear five years ago. The fisheries service and managers were to stop wasting our ocean resources and put conservation first. They didn't get the message," said Phil Kline, fisheries program director at American Oceans Campaign. "So far NMFS and the management councils have made little attempt to follow the letter or the spirit of the law. They're not doing their jobs at the expense of fish, fishermen and taxpayers."

NMFS's lack of leadership permits insufficient effort from the councils and compounds the problem. The agency that oversees fishing in federal waters has approved many management plans that fall far short of the Act's conservation mandates and has allowed needless and costly delays. This sort of mismanagement is costing taxpayers an average of $78.69 million each year in emergency spending, buyouts and aid to fishermen. It also leaves fishermen who want to fish sustainably without direction.

"Many fishermen are trying to fish responsibly, but their efforts are all but pointless," said Zeke Grader of the Pacific Coast Federations of Fishermen's Association. "When federal managers don't do their job and the law's loopholes let irresponsible practices continue, fishermen's hands are tied and our ocean resources haven't got a chance."

"It's a critical time for our ocean resources, Congress has to act now," said Lee Crockett, executive director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network. "Our fish stocks, our fishermen and fishing communities can't afford further delay. Inaction now means an even greater burden for our fisheries, fishermen and taxpayers in the foreseeable future."

"Caught in the Act" attributes part of the problem to poor implementation but also blames a legal framework rife with holes, despite Congress' best efforts. The assessment comes while bills are making their way through the U.S. House and Senate that would reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, our primary marine fisheries management law.

The Marine Fish Conservation Network, representing more than 115 environmental, commercial and sport fishing, marine science and aquarium organizations, is urging the 107th Congress to close loopholes and strengthen the Magnuson-Stevens Act with science and conservation-based provisions. Specifically, the Network is supporting H.R. 2570, introduced by Representative Sam Farr (D-CA), which if enacted would: stop overfishing; prohibit overfishing of all stocks, and include a margin of safety to compensate for scientific uncertainties and guard against natural disasters and population crashes; stop the needless and wasteful killing of non-target ocean wildlife; make it a high priority to avoid bycatch that kills non-target animals, including fish, turtles and birds, and require managers to further reduce this practice annually; protect fish habitat from destructive fishing gear and practices; keep bottom trawling, dredging, and other damaging fishing practices from destroying sensitive sea floor habitats; protect ocean food webs; require managers to stop managing ocean wildlife as a series of unconnected parts and consider the needs of ocean food webs when developing management measures.

"Congress set a clear course toward replenished fish stocks with the Fisheries Sustainability Act in 1996. It's disheartening that mandate has been all but ignored and our fishermen and communities are suffering because of it," Crockett said. "There have been a few small steps on the right track. Those given time and support prove our fisheries can be turned around. But it's going to take a stronger conservation mandate from Congress and better implementation from NMFS and fisheries management councils, if we're going to avoid further fisheries collapses."

NOTE: The full report is available at www.conservefish.org.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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