FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2024
CONTACT: Jo Knight, jo@conservefish.org
Bill would modernize fisheries policies and provide better understanding of seafood markets
Arlington, VA – Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK) today introduced the “Fisheries Improvement and Seafood Health (FISH) Act.” The bill would establish a new Fisheries and Ecological Resilience Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and direct the U.S. Government Accountability Office to report on U.S. seafood competitiveness, trade barriers in international markets, and federal programs to support domestic seafood production.
The following statement is from Robert C. Vandermark, executive director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network.
“Science-based fisheries management in U.S. federal waters provides a strong foundation for healthy and productive domestic fisheries and oceans. Due to the growing reality of climate change, our oceans are changing, and the way we manage our marine resources needs to adapt to meet the emerging ecological conditions. Rep. Peltola’s FISH Act aims to build on the success of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act by increasing fisheries resilience through coordinated data collection, innovative management tools, and increased collaboration between agencies and regional fishery management councils. It would also provide important and much needed information on U.S. seafood competitiveness in domestic and global seafood trade. The Marine Fish Conservation Network thanks Rep. Peltola for her continuing efforts to support sustainable fishing and seafood-related jobs and businesses that make up the economic backbone of our coastal communities. These 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.”
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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.
