The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“FISHERIES CONSERVATION ACT OF 2001” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H9156-H9157 on Dec. 11, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
FISHERIES CONSERVATION ACT OF 2001
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1989) to reauthorize various fishery conservation management programs, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1989
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fisheries Conservation Act of 2001''.
TITLE I--INTERJURISDICTIONAL FISHERIES ACT OF 1986
SEC. 101. REAUTHORIZATION OF INTERJURISDICTIONAL FISHERIES
ACT OF 1986.
Section 308 of the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 4107) is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) General Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Commerce for apportionment to carry out the purposes of this title--
``(1) $4,900,000 for fiscal year 2002;
``(2) $5,400,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 and 2004; and
``(3) $5,900,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 and 2006.''; and
(2) in subsection (c) by striking ``$700,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $750,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000'' and inserting ``$800,000 for fiscal year 2002, $850,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 and 2004, and
$900,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 and 2006''.
SEC. 102. PURPOSES OF THE INTERJURISDICTIONAL FISHERIES ACT
OF 1986
Section 302 of the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 4101) is amended by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of paragraph (1), striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting ``; and'', and adding at the end the following:
``(3) to promote and encourage research in preparation for the implementation of the use of ecosystems and interspecies approaches to the conservation and management of interjurisdictional fishery resources throughout their range.''.
TITLE II--ANADROMOUS FISH CONSERVATION ACT
SEC. 201. REAUTHORIZATION OF ANADROMOUS FISH CONSERVATION
ACT.
Section 4 of the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757d) is amended to read as follows:
``authorization of appropriations
``Sec. 4. (a)(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the purposes of this Act not to exceed the following sums:
``(A) $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2002;
``(B) $4,750,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 and 2004; and
``(C) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 and 2006.
``(2) Sums appropriated under this subsection are authorized to remain available until expended.
``(b) Not more than $625,000 of the funds appropriated under this section in any one fiscal year shall be obligated in any one State.''.
SEC. 202. RESEARCH ON AND USE OF ECOSYSTEMS AND INTERSPECIES
APPROACHES TO THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT.
The first section of the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act
(16 U.S.C. 757a) is amended in subsection (b) by inserting
``(1)'' after ``(b)'', and by adding at the end the following:
``(2) In carrying out responsibilities under this section, the Secretary shall conduct, promote, and encourage research in preparation for the implementation of the use of ecosystems and interspecies approaches to the conservation and management of anadromous and Great Lakes fishery resources.''.
TITLE III--ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES
SEC. 301. REAUTHORIZATION OF ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS
CONSERVATION ACT.
Section 7(a) of the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act
(16 U.S.C. 1851 note) is amended by striking ``and 2003'' and inserting ``2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006''.
SEC. 302. REAUTHORIZATION OF ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES
COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT ACT.
Section 811(a) of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (16 U.S.C. 5108) is amended by striking ``2005'' and inserting ``2006''.
SEC. 303. AMENDMENTS TO ATLANTIC COASTAL FISHERIES
COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT ACT.
(a) Findings.--Section 802(a) of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (16 U.S.C. 5101(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(7) The understanding of the interactions of species in the maritime environment and the development of ecosystems-based approaches to fishery conservation and management lead to better stewardship and sustainability of coastal fishery resources.
``(8) Federal and State scientists should gather information on the interaction of species in the marine environment and provide this scientific information to Federal and State managers.''.
(b) Purpose.--Section 802(b) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 5101(b)) is amended to read as follows:
``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this title is to support and encourage the development, implementation, and enforcement of effective interstate conservation and management of Atlantic coastal fishery resources through the use of sound science and multispecies, adaptive, and ecosystem-based management measures.''.
(c) State-Federal Cooperation in Multispecies and Ecosystems Interaction Research.--Section 804(a) of such Act
(16 U.S.C. 5103(a)) is amended by inserting ``multispecies and ecosystems interaction research;'' after ``biological and socioeconomic research;''.
(d) Assistance for Research Regarding Interrelationships Among Atlantic Coastal Fishery Resources and Their Ecosystems.--Section 808 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 5107) is amended by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of paragraph (1), redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3), and inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) research to understand the interrelationships among Atlantic coastal fishery resources and their ecosystems; and''.
TITLE IV--ATLANTIC TUNAS CONVENTION ACT OF 1975
SEC. 401. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ATLANTIC TUNAS CONVENTION
ACT OF 1975.
Section 10 of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971h) is amended to read as follows:
``authorization of appropriations
``Sec. 10. (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act, including use for payment of the United States share of the joint expenses of the Commission as provided in Article X of the Convention, the following sums:
``(1) For each of fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004,
$5,480,000.
``(2) For each of fiscal years 2005 and 2006, $5,495,000.
``(b) Allocation.--Of amounts available under this section for each fiscal year--
``(1) $150,000 are authorized for the advisory committee established under section 4 and the species working groups established under section 4A; and
``(2) $4,240,000 are authorized for research activities under this Act and the Act of September 4, 1980 (16 U.S.C. 971i).''.
TITLE V--NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISHERIES CONVENTION ACT OF 1995
SEC. 501. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISHERIES
CONVENTION ACT OF 1995.
Section 211 of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention Act of 1995 (16 U.S.C. 5610) is amended by striking ``2001'' and inserting ``2006''.
TITLE VI--EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF OCEAN POLICY REPORT
SEC. 601. EXTENSION OF DEADLINE.
(a) Extension of Deadline.--The Oceans Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-256) is amended--
(1) in section 3(f)(1) (114 Stat. 647) by striking ``18 months'' and inserting ``27 months'';
(2) in section 3(i) (114 Stat. 648) by striking ``30 days'' and inserting ``90 days''; and
(3) in section 4(a) (114 Stat. 648; 33 U.S.C. 857-19 note) by striking ``120 days'' and inserting ``90 days''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 3(j) of such Act (114 Stat. 648) is amended by striking ``$6,000,000'' and inserting ``$8,500,000''.
(c) Technical Corrections.--Section 3(e) of such Act (114 Stat. 646) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking the colon in the third sentence and inserting a period;
(2) by inserting immediately after such period the following:
``(2) Notice; Minutes; Public Availability of Documents.--
''; and
(3) by redesignating the subsequent paragraphs in order as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest).
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
This legislation reauthorizes a number of important fishery statutes that range from grants for States for conservation, research, and enforcement activities to the implementation of international treaties. The bill reauthorizes these statutes through September 30, 2006.
Two of the State grant statutes are the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 and the Anadromous Fisheries Conservation Act of 1965. These laws have been active for a number of years and have provided funding for many worthwhile activities, including research to help improve the way fisheries are managed, enforcement activities, the rebuilding of necessary habitat, and other measures to improve the survival of fish that travel across State boundaries and over great distances.
The Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act of 1984 and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act are laws that provide directives to the States and the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission to develop fishery management plans for the species of fish under their jurisdiction along the East Coast.
These laws promote cooperation between the States and Federal Government to ensure that fisheries are getting appropriate and complementary management throughout their range, whether it be in State or Federal waters. The current robust health of striped bass populations is a direct result of efforts undertaken under these two acts.
The Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention Act of 1995 are laws that implement international agreements. These acts allow the U.S. to be a member of the International Fishery Commission where management recommendations are developed by member nations for fisheries under the Commission's jurisdiction. The United States then implements those recommendations through regulations for U.S. fishing vessels.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1989 also makes some technical changes to the Oceans Act of 2000, Public Law 106-256. The bill extends the deadline for the Presidential commission to submit its report to Congress from 18 months to 27 months. This change will allow the commission to still be operational while the administration reviews and submits its comments. The commission will then have a chance to respond to the administration's comments and submit those to Congress. In addition, the commission has opted for a much broader field hearing schedule in order to obtain the views of additional Americans; and due to such a schedule, as a result, we have increased their authorization by $2.5 million.
Mr. Speaker, all of these acts are very important. They have been very successful in accomplishing their conservation goals; and in the coming years, greater emphasis will be placed on research and management measures which promote the development of an ecosystem-based management of fisheries. I urge Members to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 1989.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. UDALL of Colorado asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill.
As the gentleman from Maryland has already explained, H.R. 1989 extends a number of fisheries laws that authorize the conservation management of many of our domestic and international fishery resources. In addition, it encourages an ecosystem approach to the management of these resources which, given the current status of many marine fisheries, is an excellent idea that is long overdue.
As the gentleman from Maryland is aware, the general management of marine fisheries in the United States is in serious need of improvement. First, we lack the proper data to manage these stocks. Of the 900-plus stocks that we currently harvest, we do not have enough data to evaluate the status of more than 700 of them. At the same time, while better data is obviously needed, having good data does not ensure good management. Of the 200 or so stocks for which we do have adequate information, half are considered to be overfished or approaching an overfished condition.
The status of fisheries worldwide is apparently not much better, either. According to leading scientists in a study published in the November 29 issue of Nature Magazine, the global fisheries catches from the world's oceans have been declining for over a decade. This new evidence, which contradicts reports published by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, indicates that the true state of the oceans may be far worse than previously thought.
Now, some may think that people in Colorado, a State far from the ocean, would not care about the status of our marine fisheries, but that is not the case. The oceans represent more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface, and I believe it is incumbent upon all of us to work together to better protect and conserve their biodiversity. I know the bill of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest), with its focus on better data collection and ecosystem management, is a good first step. I look forward to working with him next year to expand this concept to the Magnuson Act, our Nation's primary law governing the management of marine fisheries.
Further, the law and its implementation must be strengthened if we are to have any hope of saving our fisheries resources, both here in the United States and around the world.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to express my gratitude and appreciation for the members of the Committee on Resources on both sides of the aisle for piecing this package together, and I also want to compliment the staff on both sides of the aisle for their effort and cooperation in pulling this package together.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers; and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1989, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to reauthorize various fishing conservation management programs, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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