FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2021
CONTACT: Jo Knight, jo@conservefish.org

Arlington, VA – House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Chairman Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Subcommittee Member Ed Case (D-HI) introduced the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act, which would amend and reauthorize the primary law that governs federal management of U.S. ocean fisheries. Prior to introducing this bill, Chairman Huffman conducted an extensive listening tour around the country to receive input into the priorities and issues facing communities and businesses that depend on healthy fisheries. Robert C. Vandermark, executive director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network, released the following statement.

“Chairman Jared Huffman led a bipartisan, two-year process to listen to the women and men around the country who depend on healthy ocean ecosystems and productive fisheries for their livelihoods and recreation. This effort resulted in a comprehensive bill that includes many improvements that ensure the ongoing conservation and restoration of U.S. fisheries and oceans, while safeguarding them against the challenges of the future and bringing significant economic benefits to our nation.

“The Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act offers several crucial improvements to federal marine policy, including for the first time addressing the effects of climate change on U.S. ocean fisheries by incorporating climate science and adaptation strategies into management decisions. In addition, the bill incorporates language that provides much needed support for working waterfronts by allocating funding and resources to improve coastal infrastructure and confront the growing threats of climate change. This bill also recognizes the need for accurate, timely, and verified catch data for all major commercial and recreational fisheries and includes measures to modernize data collection methods and utilize electronic technologies to improve catch accounting, particularly in the recreational sector.

“The Marine Fish Conservation Network looks forward to further discussing the substance of this legislation and working with Chairman Huffman and Congress to ensure a final bill supports healthy marine ecosystems, vibrant local economies, sustainably-caught seafood, millions of jobs, and abundant recreational opportunities around the country for generations to come.”

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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.