FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2020
CONTACT: Jo Knight, jo@conservefish.org
Arlington, VA – Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife, introduced today the “Fishery Failures: Urgently Needed Disaster Declarations Act” (HR 5548 – The Fishery FUNDD Act). This bill would streamline the process for applying and receiving fishery disaster relief for fishing and tribal communities impacted by fishery closures, and natural or man-made disasters.
Robert C. Vandermark, executive director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network, released the following statement:
“Working waterfronts significantly contribute to America’s blue economy and support a host community-based industries, businesses, and recreational opportunities that make up the economic and social fabric of the coastal United States. Coastal and tribal fishing communities are intricately linked to the marine ecosystem on which they rely; when disasters occur these communities need and deserve quick and decisive action and support to weather the storm.
“Chairman Huffman’s fishery disaster relief bill will greatly improve our fishery disaster response system, including needed safeguards from current and future impacts of climate change. This bill addresses the multitude of external challenges that fishing communities face while speeding up the process for getting necessary funding. Fishery disaster assistance supports workers and families, funds infrastructure repairs, and promotes habitat restoration and conservation, job training, management improvements and other priorities that restore working waterfronts and increase resilience to future disasters. We hope that the House and the Senate work quickly to pass both of their fishery disaster bills so that we can ensure long-term security for the women and men who uphold America’s enduring fishing traditions.”
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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.
