[Congressman Jim Saxton - News Release]
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: {Dec. 11, 2006}
PR-95-06
 CONTACT: JEFF SAGNIP
(609) 261-5801
www.house.gov/saxton
 

Congress Votes Final Passage of Fisheries Bill w/ Saxton Summer Flounder Provisions

Legislation boosts landings to 17M lbs. for '07; Adds crucial 3 years to fluke fishery rebuilding plan

 
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives voted for final passage of House Resolution H.R. 5946, the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, by a voice vote on Saturday.

Congressman Jim Saxton (NJ-03) was successful in obtaining language in the act that will add three years to the 10-year time frame under which summer flounder is required to be rebuilt, and allow a 17.1 million pound quota in 2007, three times some previous expectations. Saxton said his measure which has also been approved by the Senate, "will soon become law and increase the take to 29 million pounds by 2012."

"This legislation is now on its way to the White House," said Saxton, Vice Chairman of the Fisheries Conservation and Oceans Subcommittee. "It's a considerable improvement over the limitations we had faced. It strikes a balance between helping our fishermen and fostering the recovery of summer flounder stocks."

The Magnuson-Stevens Act is the primary law for fishery management in all federal waters. Saxton expects the President, who has already commented favorably on the bill, to sign H.R. 5946 this month.

"I applaud Congress for working in a bipartisan manner to pass a stronger Magnuson-Stevens Act," said President Bush. "Our Nation is committed to maintaining our thriving commercial and recreational fishing communities. This bill embraces my priorities of ending overfishing and rebuilding our nation's fish stocks through more effective, market-based management and tougher enforcement."

Earlier this year, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) estimated that the quota for summer flounder in 2007 would be 5.2 million pounds - which would have resulted in a 78 percent reduction as compared to the 2006 quota. Saxton has been working for months with the fishing community and NMFS, asking it to conduct a review of the summer flounder management plan. This review took place in the fall, and NMFS then announced its proposed ruling that included a summer flounder quota for 2007 to be just over 12 million pounds. Realizing this proposed increase in landings would not go far enough in preventing an unprecedented negative economic and social impact on NJ's coastal communities, Saxton began working on a legislative fix that resulted in a quota that is more than triple the original NMFS proposal. For 2007, the total allowable landings for summer flounder will be an estimated 17.1 million pounds, 19.6 million pounds in 2008, 22.7 million pounds in 2009 and 29 million pounds in 2012.

In recent days, leaders of the N.J. Coastal Anglers Association, the American Sportfishing Association and the commercial fisheries industry praised Saxton for his efforts and his provisions on the flounder quota.
 
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