09-R060
2009 -- S 0227
Enacted 02/20/09
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY
REQUESTING THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE TO
SUSPEND ITS
CONSIDERATION OF THE SECRETARIAL INTERIM ACTION
REGARDING THE
NORTHEAST MULTISPECIES FISHERY
Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Felag, and Sheehan
Date Introduced: February 11, 2009
WHEREAS, “The National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes a temporary
Secretarial interim action under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) to implement measures
intended to immediately reduce overfishing
in the Northeast (NE) multispecies
fishery, while addressing the need to help sustain fishing
communities, without compromising rebuilding objectives”
according to Docket No. 080521698-
8699-01; and
WHEREAS, The complexity of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the
regulations to
implement this Act have created a web of confusion and
bureaucracy for commercial fishermen
to negotiate and understand; and
WHEREAS, This proposed interim action would have devastating impact
on the
commercial fishing industry of
WHEREAS, The measures proposed in this action are intended to reduce overfishing
while the possible unintended consequences include dramatic
bycatch increases of any fish
managed by quota; and
WHEREAS, The proposed Southern New England Closure Area has led many
Rhode
Island commercial fishermen to secure dock space in
in areas that are not proposed to be closed; and
WHEREAS, This possible transfer of effort from one
considered to be sound fisheries management and will likely have
a negative impact on the
species that are targeted for rebuilding in this interim
rule; and
WHEREAS, The New England
Fisheries Management Council provided a number of
recommendations to NMFS in September 2008 to address the severity of
the stock assessment
findings however most of these recommendations are not
included in the proposed interim action;
and
WHEREAS, The impact of the measures in this proposed interim action
will further
devastate an industry that has been suffering through the worst
economic crisis in decades; and
WHEREAS, The State and
the Nation should do everything in its power to rebuild fish
stocks and reinvigorate the commercial fishing industry in
order to produce its own food supply
rather than rely on shipments of frozen fish from other
countries; and
WHEREAS,
work and food supply that the commercial fishing industry
provides to residents; now, therefore
be it
RESOLVED,
That this General Assembly of the State of
Plantations hereby
respectfully requests the National Marine Fisheries Service to immediately
suspend its consideration of this Interim Rule and continue
to work with the
Fisheries Management
Council to develop appropriate management policies that will have less of
an economic impact to the commercial fishing industry
and will not result in the bycatch of other
species; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this General Assembly shall work with the United
States Senate and
House of Representatives to
identify potential sources of funding to implement a vessel buy-back
program to provide commercial fisherman with viable options
to leave the industry without going
into severe debt or bankruptcy; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is
authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the
members of the Rhode Island United States
Congressional Delegation in
W. Balsiger
and Regional Administrator of the Northeast Region, Patricia Kurkul.
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LC01773
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