Representatives Mary Peltola (AK-AL), Jared Huffman (San Rafael), James Moylan (Guam-AL), and Ed Case (HI-01) re-introduced Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act.
This legislation is set to update and reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), the primary law governing federal fisheries management and conservation.
“It is long past time for us to modernize and update MSA. Alaskans know how important it is to keep our fish stocks healthy, and I want to thank Rep. Huffman for his continued leadership on this issue. I look forward to a robust and overdue discussion on how we can protect our nation’s fisheries for the next generation,” said Rep. Peltola.
In addition, Rep. Peltola earlier introduced the Fisheries Improvement and Seafood Health (FISH) Act to modernize Alaska fisheries. Her bill also aims to update the MSA by creating a Fisheries and Ecological Resilience program to mandate studies on U.S. seafood competitiveness in international markets and federal programs that support domestic seafood production.
“Whether it’s the seafood we eat, time spent on the water as recreational anglers, or local economies supported by working waterfronts, communities coast-to-coast depend on healthy oceans and fisheries. Our main tool for managing these resources has been effective for decades; but new approaches are necessary in this era of climate change, technological advancements, and increasing ocean use,” said Rep. Huffman. “Right from its inception, our process has been one of the most deliberative, transparent efforts to reauthorize the MSA. Through our stakeholder-driven, science-based approach, we have crafted legislation that rises to the challenges of the 21st Century and includes critical updates to meet the new challenges at hand. With the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act, we can strengthen fishing communities and ensure the U.S. remains the standard-bearer of sustainable fisheries management well into the future.”
“I am proud to be co-leading the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This is an extraordinary chance for a territorial delegate to ensure that issues facing our Pacific fisheries are heard loud and clear,” stated Delegate Moylan. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that America’s fisheries are set up for success in the years to come.”
“I’m proud to join Ranking Member Rep. Huffman, Representative Peltola, and Delegate Moylan in re-introducing this landmark reauthorization of our nation’s Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act,” said Rep. Case. “This reauthorization provides critical updates to ensure the long-term sustainability of our fisheries by integrating climate change as a critical consideration. I’m especially pleased that this bill includes significant reforms to promote accountability, transparency and representation for our nation’s fisheries management councils. These councils are charged with the stewardship of our fisheries, a precious natural resource that all Americans have a vital interest in protecting for long-term sustainability. These are long overdue and necessary reforms to ensure long-term public trust in the work that these councils are doing on behalf of our nation.”