MFCN Supports First Action on Key Federal Fisheries Policy Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2021
CONTACT: Jo Knight, jo@conservefish.org

House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Bill

Arlington, VA – House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife today held a hearing on 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.

“The Marine Fish Conservation Network thanks the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife for taking action today to move the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act forward. U.S. fisheries supply 1.74 million U.S. jobs and contribute $354.8 billion in combined sales and added value to the U.S. economy. With H.R. 4690, Chairman Jared Huffman and Rep. Ed Case have given Congress a good starting point for ensuring that our fisheries management system continues to support American livelihoods and coastal economies and is ready to meet the challenges of the future. This bill introduces important steps to make U.S. fisheries climate-ready, as well as enhance accurate, timely, and verified catch accounting and improve needed infrastructure to keep working waterfronts and fishing communities productive and thriving. We thank Chairman Huffman in particular for his leadership in listening to stakeholders around the country and addressing many of their needs, hopes, and concerns in this bill. We encourage the House Natural Resources Committee to keep the momentum going and to pass H.R. 4690 through committee and on to a full House vote.”

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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.