[bennyslanding]

Statement by Eric Schwaab, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, on Today’s “United We Fish” Rally at Capitol Hill

February 24, 2010
I am here today to listen to those who have come to rally Congress. I know the key to any successful fishery management program is active involvement by commercial and recreational fishermen as well as other interested stakeholders.
Marine fish and fisheries have been vital to the prosperity of this nation’s coastal communities for hundreds of years. Today, however, more than 20 percent of the nation’s fish stocks are overfished and need to be rebuilt to larger, healthier populations so that they can produce their full economic potential for fishermen, coastal communities and the nation.
In 2006, Congress reauthorized and strengthened the Magnuson-Stevens Act to meet that important goal. This reauthorization was groundbreaking in many respects, including the requirement that we use science-based annual catch limits to end overfishing on all stocks. Ending overfishing is the first step to allowing a fish stock population to rebuild to a level where the stock can be fished sustainably for the long term.
I recognize and appreciate the sacrifices being made today by the men and women in the commercial and recreational fishing industries to end overfishing and rebuild marine fish stocks as required by Magnuson. These sacrifices have the potential to result in significant long-term economic benefits to fishing communities and the nation as well as benefits to the overall ocean ecosystems. Recognizing the sacrifices being made to transition to more sustainable fishing, NOAA and Congress has made a commitment of $18.6 million to assist in the transition to sectors in the Northeast groundfish industry.
Rebuilding stocks has already led to important successes and significant economic benefits for fishermen, coastal communities and the nation. Some examples are the sea scallop, monkfish, bluefish and Gulf of Mexico king mackerel fisheries. The dockside value revenues in the sea scallop industry have increased from $84.7 million in 1994 when the stock was overfished to $370 million in 2008. The healthy bluefish stocks on the Atlantic coast provide consistent, reliable fishing opportunities for shore and party and charter boat anglers and the related economic benefits of sportfishing to a wide variety of shore businesses.
We estimate that once the nation rebuilds all fisheries, which we are on a track to do and required to do by law, the dockside value of our commercial fisheries would go from $4.1 billion to $6.3 billion annually, a 54 percent increase. Rebuilding recreational fisheries will help improve the economies of our nation’s coastal communities; saltwater angling generated $82 billion in sales and supported more than 500,000 jobs annually in NOAA’s most recent report.
I understand the criticism of the 10-year rebuilding timeframes in Magnuson. However, I believe Magnuson already contains the flexibility we need for rebuilding stocks by allowing certain exceptions based on biology and other issues. Balancing rebuilding for the long-term health of coastal communities with the immediate economic effects remains a challenge for everyone involved in implementing the act’s mandate to end overfishing and rebuild stocks.
Although I’ve only been in my job as head of NOAA’s Fisheries Service for a little more than a week, I am familiar with fishing communities, their proud traditions, and the challenges we face in keeping them vibrant for future generations. I am interested in hearing the concerns of everyone involved, and I look forward to a cooperative and productive relationship.

 

[captadamnj]

Nice "sounding" piece, click for "the rest of the story".

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/puopinion/local_story_054224254.html?keyword=topstory

 

[irishc]

I don't think the piece is nice sounding at all.

Eric Schwaab said:

"I understand the criticism of the 10-year rebuilding timeframes in Magnuson. However, I believe Magnuson already contains the flexibility we need for rebuilding stocks by allowing certain exceptions based on biology and other issues."

This guy thinks there's nothing wrong with the way it is!!!

 

[mstelmac]

Great statement but from what I understand he wasn't allowed to deliver it at capitol hill. No one wanted to hear his Bull Shat.

 

[aj bruno]

Although I’ve only been in my job as head of NOAA’s Fisheries Service for a little more than a week.....


that says it all

 

[missingtwo]

Although I’ve only been in my job as head of NOAA’s Fisheries Service for a little more than a week.....


that says it all

AJ I actually had to go back and read that sentence a few times to make sure I was reading it right.

Sad part is his boss is just as bad for letting him make any kind of statement.

 

[captadamnj]

For the record, my comment about a nice "sounding" piece had "sounding" in "" for sarcasm. There is nothing encouraging about the piece.

With regards to his being allowed to speak, the rally was about supporting flexibility in Magnuson. If he had wanted to speak on behalf of that effort, then that would have been up for discussion.

Finally, NOAA has zero grounds taking a position on changing a federal law. Last time I checked, NOAA/NOAA fisheries doesn't make laws. It should not matter to them what the law is, they should be doing the job the law dictates they do. The problem is that they are dictating policy and trying to effect lawmaking decisions.

NOAA Mission Statement -
MISSION

To understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs

NOAA Fisheries Mission Statement -

Stewardship of living marine resources through
science-based conservation and management and the​

promotion of healthy ecosystems

 

[High Wire]

"We estimate that once the nation rebuilds all fisheries, which we are on a track to do and required to do by law, the dockside value of our commercial fisheries would go from $4.1 billion to $6.3 billion annually, a 54 percent increase..."
If supply goes up, price goes down. No concept of economics 101.

 

[Fillet1]

He claims they helped us catch bluefish?

 

[DarkSkies]

He claims they helped us catch bluefish?

Well, it is his first week on the job, ya know....

.:nuts:
He still needs to learn the differences between all the fishies out there.

 

[RhinoScores]

"Rebuilding stocks has already led to important successes and significant economic benefits for fishermen, coastal communities and the nation. Some examples are the sea scallop, monkfish, bluefish and Gulf of Mexico king mackerel fisheries. "

Did I miss a closed season to allow bluefish to rebuild? Or perhaps there was a bluefish limit of 1 fish over 28" that I missed? :nuts:

 

[RhinoScores]

"We estimate that once the nation rebuilds all fisheries, which we are on a track to do and required to do by law, the dockside value of our commercial fisheries would go from $4.1 billion to $6.3 billion annually, a 54 percent increase..."
If supply goes up, price goes down. No concept of economics 101.

That's the same rational and fuzzy math lib politicos use when raising taxes such as the sales tax. However, experience shows us that when the tax rate is raised, collections fall. lease:

 

[CaptTB]

"Rebuilding stocks has already led to important successes and significant economic benefits for fishermen, coastal communities and the nation. Some examples are the sea scallop, monkfish, bluefish and Gulf of Mexico king mackerel fisheries. "

The best part is that both Sea Scallops and Monkfish were being SHUT DOWN by NMFS working under the MSA as written.

It took the industry hiring their OWN scientists and spending their OWN money to prove that not only were scallops and monkfish (these things were done separately) NOT overfished, but they were actually REBUILT!

So the new AA of NMFS actually used two species in his examples that prove that the MSA and NMFS do NOT work! When it takes private industry spending their own money to prove wrong the people who were tasked with doing the job, something is wrong.