Fishing Industry
Commercial fishing in New Hampshire brings in over $17 million annually while employing thousands of Granite Staters. I am proud to be a strong advocate on behalf of Commercial Fishing in New Hampshire. Government regulators must understand that when fishermen are put out of work there is a ripple effect on an economy. Restaurants, hotels, and other seacoast shops lose business.
We must not continue to limit the fishermen’s ability to harvest their catch while simultaneously increasing regulations based on incomplete scientific data. Nobody has a greater interest in the health of this industry than the fishermen, and I look forward to working with both the regulating agencies and the men and women who make a living harvesting our natural resources.
Legislative Action:
Recently, I signed a letter addressed to Commerce Secretary Bryson and NOAA Administrator Lubchenco supporting the State of New Hampshire’s request for a disaster declaration and assistance for fishing communities in New Hampshire. The letter was also signed by New Hampshire’s United States Senators
My support for economic relief for New Hampshire fishermen does not include supporting an agenda that replaces your jobs permanently. All policies should be written so that there remains a strong future for our native fleet of small boats. I will not support any efforts to end the fishing industry or that would drastically change the image of our small seacoast.
Introduced H.R. 4208, The Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act
- I joined with Rep. Barney Frank (D, MA) in introducing this bill, which would support the long-term future of New Hampshire's Fishing Industry.
- The Saltonstall-Kennedy Act of 1954 imposed a special duty on fish and fish products imported into the U.S. The law requires 30 percent of that money be spent supporting fisheries, research and development projects and other efforts to give long-term stability to New England’s fishing industry. However, a disturbing trend has developed in recent years; those funds have been diverted into the operating budget of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The problem has grown so bad, that of the $113 million of duties collected for this purpose in 2010, more than $104 million was redirected to NOAA’s operating fund. That left only $8 million allocated for the intended purpose.
- The Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act would require the full 30 percent of duties collected under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act go to fisheries and research and development projects as required by existing law.
- The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources for consideration. Guinta says he will continue working with his colleagues from both sides of the aisle to secure passage for this important piece of legislation.
- Click here to read more about this important bill.
Congressman Guinta sponsored HR 4100 the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2011 with Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU).
- Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) or pirate fishing costs between $10 and $23 billion annually.
- Takes away between 11 and 26 million tons of seafood annually from legitimate fishermen
- This bipartisan piece of legislation will benefit U.S. fishermen, seafood buyers and consumers by preventing vessels carrying illegally harvested fish from entering our ports and diluting the market with illegal product.
- Protects our domestic fishermen while ensuring that the third largest importer of seafood in the world is ensuring the fish we are importing is caught legally.
Introduced H.R. 1806 the Bluefin Tuna Fishermen Employment Preservation Act
- Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit treatment of the Bluefin tuna as an endangered or threatened species
Cosponsor H.R. 2304 the Fishery Science Improvement Act of 2011
- Directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to set Annual Catch Limits only on stocks for which they have the most up to date scientific information
- For stocks not found to be overfished, the deadline is extended to 2014 for the setting of Annual Catch Limits
Cosponsor H.R. 2610 the Asset Forfeiture Fund Reform and Distribution Act of 2011
- The bill will provide refunds from the Asset Forfeiture Fund (AFF) for attorney’s fees to victims identified by the Secretary.
- The remaining funds in the AFF and all fines collected by September 30th FY 2011 in the AFF will then be distributed to NOAA and the states per an 80/20 distribution.
- 80% going to NOAA for stock assets and 20% percent to the states for research and other purposes as outlined in the bill
- 100% of future AFF funds collected in FY 2012 and beyond will be used for solely for state research – thus removing the Agency incentive for higher fines. NOAA must reassign its ALJs in the various Council Regions after a 5 year period.
Cosponsor H.R. 2772 Saving Fishing Jobs Act of 2011
- The Catch share quota system is putting New Hampshire fishermen out of work and consolidating the industry into the hands of a few of the larger boats. This is devastating the NH fishing industry, some estimates have our fleet reduced by as much as 30% in recent years. As I’ve toured the Seabrook Cooperative and spoken with fishermen it has become clear that they have had little say as to where and when a catch share program may be implemented.
- What this bill does:
- Prevents the implementation of a catch share program without two thirds of eligible fishermen supporting it in a referendum
- Provides a “safety valve” so that if any new catch share program results in a 15% or greater loss in jobs the program terminates.
- Relieves taxpayers of the burden of paying for any catch share programs.
- Sent a letter to President Obama requesting he consider removing the catch shares program as part of his complete governmental review of needless regulations.
Voted in favor of Amendment #548 to H.R. 1, the Jones Amendment which would block funding for catch share programs.
Signed onto a letter with Members of the Maine and Massachusetts delegation requesting Secretary of Commerce John Bryson initiate an emergency assessment of the Cod Stock in the Gulf of Maine while freezing the current Annual Catch Limit (ACL) until the study is complete.