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“INTRODUCTION OF THE ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED, AND UNREGULATED FISHING ENFORCEMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2009” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E276-E277 on Feb. 13, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF THE ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED, AND UNREGULATED FISHING
ENFORCEMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2009
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HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO
of guam
in the house of representatives
Friday, February 13, 2009
Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have introduced a bill to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The difficulties of managing fish stocks that migrate across political boundaries are exacerbated by the increased fishing power now available as a result of modern technology. While the United States is recognized for its commitment to domestic fisheries conservation and as an international voice in science-based ocean conservation, the failure of other nations to adopt similar approaches has both economic and conservation implications for U.S. industry and management. Additional action is needed from Congress if we are to be successful in combating IUU fishing and the depletion of fish stocks worldwide.
Recent reports have documented that IUU fishing accounts for between 11 and 19 percent of the reported global fish catch, or $10-25 billion in gross revenues each year (MRAG, 2005, Sumaila et al., 2006 and Agnew et al., 2008). This undermines the United States' conservation focused approach to fisheries management and the efforts of its fishermen, and has implications for sustainable international fisheries that benefit the world's marine ecosystems. Unsustainable fishing practices by foreign fishing fleets adversely affect stocks that migrate between the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the high seas. This problem can be particularly acute in places like Guam, where the EEZ is vast, and where the United States Coast Guard, despite its best efforts, will never have sufficient resources to patrol all of our waters.
There are many ways to address the issue of IUU fishing, including depriving fishers of the economic benefits of illegal fishing, increasing leverage on nations to effectively monitor and control their fishing vessels, and building capacity for enforcement and good governance in developing countries, all of which were addressed with the 2006 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The January 13th release of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) biennial report to Congress of identified IUU nations was a positive first step in addressing IUU fishing. Notwithstanding these and other efforts by NOAA, the Department of State, and the United States Coast Guard, further enforcement authorities could enhance the ability of these agencies to address IUU fishing.
The ``Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2009'', which I have introduced today, will further enhance the enforcement authority of NOAA and the United States Coast Guard to regulate IUU fishing. This bill would amend the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (HSDFMPA) and other international and regional fishery management organization (RFMO) agreements to incorporate in them the civil penalties, permit sanctions, criminal offenses, civil forfeitures and enforcement sections of the MSA. It would also strengthen the enforcement authority of NOAA and the United States Coast Guard to inspect conveyances, facilities, and records involving the storage, processing, transport and trade of fish and fish products, and to detain fish and fish products for up to five days while an investigation is ongoing.
In addition, this bill makes technical adjustments to allow NOAA to more effectively carry out current IUU identification mandates, including extending the duration of time of identification of violators from the preceding two years to the preceding three years. This bill also broadens data sharing authority to enable NOAA to share information with foreign governments and to clarify that all information it collects may be shared with international organizations and foreign governments, particularly for the purposes of conducting enforcement. These amendments promote the conservation and sound management of fish stocks internationally and in a manner that is consistent with the expectations placed on U.S. fishermen.
Finally, this bill would establish an international cooperation and assistance program to provide funding and technical expertise to other nations to help them address IUU fishing. It authorizes $5 million annually from 2010 to 2015 to carry out this program oriented towards establishing a coordinated and effective global system to combat IUU fishing.
IUU fishermen are ``free riders'' who benefit unfairly from the sacrifices made by U.S. fishermen and others for the sake of proper fisheries conservation and management. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this important bill through the legislative process.
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