ALERT: Angling for Disaster
On February 27th Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced S. 482, the deceptively titled “Fisheries Science and Management Improvement Act of 2003”. This legislation proposes changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act that would, if enacted, gut many of the strongest conservation provisions governing ocean fishing. Let’s stop this bad legislation before it gets started.
S. 482 will:
- Deplete already stressed fish populations by permitting overfishing and postponing rebuilding indefinitely.
- Remove protections for essential fish habitat within 3 miles of our coastlines where approximately 70% of our ocean fish spend at least part of their lives.
- Block at-sea observer programs that collect information on the catching and killing of non-target ocean wildlife (bycatch) by creating insurmountable bureaucratic hurdles.
- Undermines scientific information available for sound management decisions by allowing the inclusion of anecdotal stories from fishermen.
Current law provides for the rebuilding of overfished populations within specified time periods, minimizing bycatch, protecting essential fish habitats, and promoting the use of best scientific information available. This bill will severely weaken each of these conservation requirements.
Let’s save these conservation measures – and save the fish and the future of fishing. Help us by writing to Senator Collins today.
Click here to send your letter.
Get more information at www.conservefish.org
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