Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Bill Passes Out of House Natural Resources Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 2022
CONTACT: Jo Knight, jo@conservefish.org
Arlington, VA – The House Natural Resources Committee today passed H.R. 4690, the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act, which would amend and reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the primary law that governs federal management of U.S. ocean fisheries. The following statement is from Robert C. Vandermark, executive director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network.
“Today the House Natural Resources Committee moved forward an important piece of legislation for the health and productivity of U.S. ocean fisheries, a valuable natural resource for our nation’s food supply and economy. The Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act contains crucial measures to enhance science-based fisheries management, support community-based fishing, and strengthen our economically important working waterfronts. Additionally, H.R. 4690 addresses for the first time the impacts of a changing climate on U.S. fisheries and incorporates the growing reality of climate change into proactive fisheries management planning, including preparing for a geographic shift in fish stocks due to warming waters. All of these fisheries management improvements will help us meet the current and future challenges facing our oceans and fisheries and will benefit the communities and people who depend on them. The Marine Fish Conservation Network thanks Representatives Jared Huffman, Ed Case, and Mary Sattler Peltola for leading the charge to pass these important changes to our federal fisheries law. We encourage the House of Representatives to keep the momentum going and to pass H.R. 4690.”
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The Marine Fish Conservation Network is a coalition of commercial and recreational fishing associations, regional and national conservation groups, aquaria, and marine science organizations committed to sustaining fish populations, healthy marine ecosystems, and robust fishing communities.
