PrintCSC Members Express Concerns about Reauthorization of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act
When the House Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee met July 24 to consider new legislation that would lift the hold on designating new marine sanctuaries and rewrite the laws governing marine sanctuaries, two CSC members testified in opposition to the proposed legislation.
Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus members Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC) and Jim Saxton (R-NJ) expressed their concerns that the federal government was exceeding its authority and that when it comes to fishing within state waters, that fisheries management would be decided by statute rather than science. Rep. Brown introduced a letter from the fishing community and a fact sheet on MPAs into the record.
"Any proposition from the federal government that tells South Carolina where it can or can't develop its offshore petroleum reserves will be rejected," Rep. Henry Brown said. "Any proposition that tells South Carolina where it can or can't fish will be rejected. In fact, any proposition that tells South Carolina what it can or can't do in its own waters will be rejected."
Rep. Jim Saxton's concern was that some of the bill's provisions, including the possibility of trawling and fishing bans within the sanctuaries, would transfer fisheries regulation from the National Marine Fisheries Service to the National Ocean Service. Saxton said this would mean fisheries are regulated by statute, rather than by science.
Read the letter from the fishing community
REad the fishing community's position statement
Read the facts on MPAs - Threat to Recreational Fishing?
