TELE-BRIEFING: Congress To Begin Updating Nation's Primary Ocean Fish Law

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Jan 29, 2014, 01:54 ET

Proposal could reverse progress in rebuilding fish populations

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Congress starts to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the principal law governing U.S. fishery management, commercial and recreational fishermen will join a representative from a coalition of national conservation groups to discuss the changes needed to strengthen the law and build upon recent progress in rebuilding fish populations, ending overfishing, and sustaining coastal economies.

U.S. Representative Doc Hastings, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, recently circulated a proposal to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act. If enacted, it would repeat failed policies of the past that drove the collapse of many important U.S. fisheries in the 1980s and early 1990s. On Tuesday, February 4, the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on this proposal.

A question-and-answer session will follow brief opening remarks by the speakers.

WHAT:
Phone briefing on reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Act

WHEN:
Friday, January 31, at 1 p.m. EST

WHO:

Lee Crockett – director of U.S. oceans, The Pew Charitable Trusts (moderator)
George Geiger – three-term member and former chair, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and owner/operator of Chances Are fishing charters
Zeke Grader – executive director, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations
Captain Patrick Paquette – a recreational fishing community leader

CALL LOGISTICS:
Number: 800.351.6807
Passcode: fish

Groups involved in the conservation coalition include: Conservation Law Foundation, Earthjustice, the Marine Fish Conservation Network, Natural Resources Defense Council, Ocean Conservancy, and The Pew Charitable Trusts.

This briefing is for credentialed media only. An audio file of this call will be posted to www.PewEnvironment.org.

CONTACT: Dave Bard, 202.486.4426

SOURCE The Pew Charitable Trusts