Butterfish may sound delicious, but local fishermen would rather keep them out of their nets. The small, silvery fish are protected by fishing limits yet frequently surface in tows when fishermen are trawling for squid. Too much of this unintended butterfish "bycatch" can get a fishery shut down by regulators for the year – before the squid allocation is caught.
more >>

3rd quarter update

Runyan Sends Letter to Obama About Job Killing Fishing Regulations

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday Congressman Jon Runyan (R-NJ), along with Representatives Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Frank Guinta (R-NH), and Sandy Adams (R-FL), sent a letter to President Obama urging him to reconsider the use of catch share programs for commercial and recreational fishermen.

“Excessive government regulations have played a large role in our continued economic crisis,” stated Rep. Runyan. “One of these excessive regulations is the catch share programs for fishermen. These programs have proven to decrease the number of fishing boats, which can have long lasting unintended economic consequences, including the loss of jobs in the fishing industry. There are other options to maintain a healthy fish supply. We are asking the President and his administration to look at these other tools as a way of preserving the generations old fishing tradition in many coastal areas and all the jobs associated with this industry.”

Since being elected to Congress, Rep. Runyan has been an advocate for the fishing industry, including introducing the bi-partisan Saving Fishing Jobs Act of 2011, which seeks to hold the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration accountable for catch share programs that have been detrimental to the fishing industry in coastal communities up and down the eastern seaboard.

The efforts by Representatives Runyan, LoBiondo, Ros-Lehtinen, Guinta and Adams have the support of many outside organizations. “This letter expresses the concern of fishermen and coastal communities throughout the entire East Coast, many of which have already been burdened by the cost of previous excessive regulations and do not believe they can continue to operate with the current catch share approach that in many cases is not necessary,” stated Greg DiDomenico, the Executive Director of the Garden State Seafood Association.

“I look forward to sharing the President’s response to the thousands of fishermen in my district and across the country,” said Rep. Runyan.

###

*Note – A copy of the letter that was sent to President Obama is attached

NMFS issues permit for swordfish bycatch in Illex squid trawl fishery

Pallone introduces new fisheries measure

Kirk Moore
Sep. 30, 2011

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS — New legislation would require federal regulators and their science advisers to offer more detailed reasons before restricting fishing limits on rebuilt stocks like black sea bass, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-NJ, said Thursday.

The bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Pallone and Rep. Walter Jones, R-NC, is similar to their “flexibility act” offered in the last session of Congress. It would allow waivers to the 10-year stock rebuilding deadline imposed during one reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

“Where did 10 years come from? Congress made it up,” Pallone said during a news conference at the town harbor. “When it’s made up – taking a rabbit out of a hat, really – why shouldn’t it be flexible?”

The 10-year rebuilding schedule was adopted at the urging of environmental groups, who argue the fishing industry historically has persuaded regulators to avoid taking tough steps to end overfishing. Those activists have continued to fight attempts like Pallone’s to alter the Magnuson-Stevens rebuilding timetable.

But fishermen argued the fixed timetable is biologically unrealistic – and a management time bomb. more >>

Proposed Measure Would Ease Strict Constraints on Commercial and Sport Fishermen
Relaxing the rules could help protect the fishing industry, a key economic driver of the Jersey Shore

By Tom Johnson, September 30 in Energy & Environment

Federal grants are helping Yank Marine buy a $1.8 million boat lift for its Upper Township boatyard

By MICHAEL MILLER Staff Writer | Posted: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 10:24 pm
UPPER TOWNSHIP — Every corner of Yank Marine’s sprawling 6-acre boatyard was bustling with activity Tuesday.
In one corner, workers tended to the Hudson River ferry Moira Smith, famous for rescuing passengers during the “Miracle on the Hudson” crash of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in 2009. After a recent engine fire, the boat needs to be rebuilt from the inside out.
Elsewhere, the twin ferries York and Jersey, owned by Goldman Sachs, awaited routine maintenance. The sleek pontoon boats take company employees from offices between New York and New Jersey. more >>

Runyan, Jones, Ros-Lehtinen Introduce Legislation to Hold Federal Agency Accountable For Lost Fishing Jobs 

Washington, D.C. – This week Representatives Jon Runyan (NJ-3), Walter Jones (NC-3), and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18) introduced the “Saving Fishing Jobs Act of 2011.”  This legislation seeks to hold the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) accountable for fisheries management programs called catch shares that have been detrimental to fishermen throughout the Eastern and Gulf Coasts.  The bill would require the Secretary of Commerce to terminate a catch share program if it reduces the total number of fishermen in the program by 15 percent or more.  It also would prevent the government from imposing new catch share programs on fishing communities that oppose them.  It would do so by requiring consideration of new programs to be initiated only via a petition signed by at least 50 percent of fishermen in the fishery, and by requiring a two-thirds vote of fishermen for approval of new programs.  Finally, the bill includes language to protect taxpayers from shouldering the extra costs associated with implementing and managing new catch share programs.  

The non-partisan consumer watchdog, Food & Water Watch has noted that if more catch share programs are implemented, “…many traditional fishermen will be forced out of work, economies of their communities will crumble, there will be increased risk of harm to our oceans, and consumers will probably end up with lower-quality seafood (http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/fish/fair-fish).”

Catch share programs have been controversial because many have resulted in the consolidation of fishing fleets, costing fishermen their jobs.  According to NOAA, one of the largest fisheries in the northeastern U.S. lost almost 20 percent of its boats in the first year (2009-2010) after a major catch shares program was implemented across the entire region. 

The Saving Fishing Jobs Act of 2011 is limited to the New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico fishery management councils.  Below you can find quotes from Reps. Jon Runyan (NJ), Walter Jones (NC), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL), Wenonah Hauter of Food & Water Watch, and Greg DiDomenico of Garden State Seafood Association. 

Rep. Jon Runyan (NJ)

“NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco has a previously stated goal of seeing ‘a sizable fraction of the (fishing) fleet eliminated.  Catch share programs, her signature initiative, have done just that by forcing small fishermen out.  This bill will ensure that catch share programs are shut down if they are forcing people out of work.  This is a jobs bill and has the potential to save fishing jobs.”

Rep. Walter Jones (NC)

“Fishermen need a say in the programs that determine their economic futures.  If they really want a catch share program, this bill would give them the opportunity to make that choice rather than have it forced upon them as is currently the case.  Meanwhile, at a time when federal budgets are shrinking significantly, it is important that taxpayers not be forced to pick up the tab for the extra cost of administering new catch share programs.  This bill would provide that protection for taxpayers, which is essential.”

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL)

“I have met with many local fishermen from my Congressional District and they all complain about the adverse affects of these catch share programs. They are adamantly opposed to the privatization of one of our greatest natural resources which is a primary component of catch shares. I urge my colleagues to support this measure because during these tough economic times the federal government should be helping small fishermen, and not creating obstacles for them to make a decent living.”

Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch

“Fish are a public resource.  Unfortunately, private investment groups and even some public interest groups have openly compared access to fish to the stock market and are treating it like an investment that can be bought and sold for personal profit," said Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter.  "Congressman Runyan is concerned with the welfare of fishermen.  We commend him for pushing back against those that would destroy the fishing business by modeling it after big agribusiness on land, with giant commercial operations controlling the market."

Greg DiDomenico, Executive Director, Garden State Seafood Association

“We thank Congressman Runyan for his efforts to protect the fishing industry and coastal communities.” 

 2nd quarter summary

Magnuson – Stevens Act: New Jersey Rep. Jon Runyan (R-3^rd) introduced the “American Angler Preservation Act” to address several concerns raised by sport and commercial fishing interests, including but not limited to: accurate and risk neutral scientific decisions; Science and Statistical Committee transparency; improved process for declaring fishery disasters; new catch share referendum requirements in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions; flexibility in rebuilding fish stocks; and preventing fishing closures which are being based on poor science. The bill was referred to the Natural Resources Committee and Mr. Runyan has requested a New Jersey field hearing. more >>