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.
“FLORIDA'S FISHERMEN NEED OUR HELP” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H13117-H13118 on Nov. 18, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
FLORIDA'S FISHERMEN NEED OUR HELP
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have been to the floor of this Chamber on several occasions to discuss the tremendous economic hardships being shouldered by the residents of my congressional district of south Florida. This evening I would like to highlight the men and women of Florida's commercial and recreational fishing industries, and their efforts to weather this economic storm.
Mr. Speaker, Florida's recreational fishing industry is the largest in the Nation. Its economic impact to our State is to the tune of $5.3 billion, and more than 5,400 jobs are generated by this industry. Similarly, Florida's commercial fishing industry is nearly 13,000 strong and contributes a staggering $1.2 billion to our economy.
The strength of Florida's fishing industries is due largely to the diversity and the abundance of species within the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic area. There are grouper and snapper, wahoo and yellowfin tuna, not to mention Keys lobster and stone crab. Thanks to this diversity, Florida's fishing industry is particularly resilient in the face of increased zoning regulations, bag limits, and even fishery closures. Our fishermen understand that maintaining a robust, healthy fishery through appropriate regulation is the key to their economic success.
However, present Federal action to implement multiple fishing regulations will have a chilling effect on this historic and important industry. In particular, Mr. Speaker, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is considering regulations which include but are not limited to: a complete ban on deepwater grouper fishing; annual catch limits on black grouper and red grouper; and catch limits on red snapper fishing.
The comprehensive nature of these prohibitions will leave our fishermen with little or no alternative for their economic livelihood. These prohibitions, compounded by a reduction in tourism throughout south Florida, and that includes the Florida Keys, will force generations of Florida fishermen to walk away from their boats in search of other types of employment. This is unacceptable.
That is why I have called on Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke to reconsider these ill-timed proposals. Additionally, I have asked Secretary Locke to refrain from implementing any emergency rules which impose short-term restrictions on Florida's fisheries. These emergency rulings completely circumvent the public comment process, which is an essential element to any fishery management plan. Sound science is also a critical component to sound management.
My congressional colleagues and I have called on the House Natural Resources Committee to conduct a hearing on the legislation introduced by Congressman John Mica and Congressman Henry Brown which would require the Department of Commerce to conduct a non-biased, science-
based study on the health of the red snapper population in the South Atlantic.
My colleagues from Florida understand that scientific data collection processes need to be improved, and economic impacts must be taken into account when considering a fishery closure. I have also asked the Department of Commerce to provide economic assistance to those fishermen and businesses that cannot survive the restrictions that are being implemented.
For Keys recreational angler Andy Griffith, the upcoming 4-month grouper closure has resulted in a 90 percent loss of business for the 2010 fishing season. His season for 2010 will only be 2 months long. For the rest of the year his boats will sit by the dock racking up insurance costs. Fishermen like Andy need economic relief. They need our help.
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, last amended by Congress in the year 2007, directs how the Federal Government will manage saltwater fisheries. But the lack of flexibility provided to local managers in this law is of serious concern to many of us. That is why I support legislation which would amend the Magnuson-
Stevens Act to provide flexibility to State regulators and regional fishery management councils in their work to rebuild healthy fisheries.
Mr. Speaker, the livelihood of Florida's fishing industry demands that we act.
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