legislation – Fishermens News

Legislation on Working Waterfronts Introduced; Aims to Boost Coastal Economies

14Feb

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Legislation on Working Waterfronts Introduced; Aims to Boost Coastal Economies

Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate on Feb. 12 aims to boost coastal workforces, fisheries, food security and shoreside infrastructure of coastal fisheries communities nationwide. The Working Waterfronts Act, submitted by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, would also support efforts to mitigate impacts of climate change on coastal communities and strengthen federal conservation research projects. Given Alaska’s 66,000 miles of coastline and the thousands of people reliant on Alaska’s rivers and oceans for fishery operations, tourism, mariculture and more, Murkowski said there is a need to capitalize on opportunities existing through the blue economy with the infrastructure and workforce needed to meet those goals. The legislation would also boost research and climate change ...

Working Waterfront Preservation Act Introduced in Senate

15Nov

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Working Waterfront Preservation Act Introduced in Senate

Federal legislation that would provide $20 million annually to boost and protect working waterfronts has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. It is backed by the Fishing Communities Coalition, a national association of community-based small-boat commercial fishing groups. The Working Waterfront Preservation Act, initiated with support from the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, was introduced Nov. 1 by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Jack Reed, D-RI. “All across Alaska, fishing communities are facing infrastructure challenges and need upgrades to harbors and boatyards,” said Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association in Sitka, who helped to promote the legislation. “This bill would support that. It’s a great start.” If approved by Co...

New Bill Would Permanently Ban Some Mining Projects to Protect Oregon Salmon

2Aug

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New Bill Would Permanently Ban Some Mining Projects to Protect Oregon Salmon

Legislation now before the U.S. House of Representatives would ensure that certain federal lands in Southwest Oregon are permanently “withdrawn” from eligibility for mining. Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Ore., who introduced the Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act (SOWSPA) on July 27, said the bill would protect high-quality salmon and steelhead strongholds, clean drinking water in the outdoor recreation and tourism economy, and a high concentration of rare plants in the area of the Rogue, Smith, Illinois and Chetco National Wild and Scenic Rivers. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-CA, a cosponsor of the bill, said it is hard to overstate the ecological, cultural and economic importance of salmon and their habitat in this watershed. “It’s hard to overstate the ecological, cultural...

Proposed Legislation Would Clarify If Ports Can Apply for Commercial Fishing Support Grants

19Jul

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Proposed Legislation Would Clarify If Ports Can Apply for Commercial Fishing Support Grants

Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Val Hoyle in mid-July aims to clarify whether ports can apply for infrastructure grants to support commercial fishing, and in turn boost coastal communities’ jobs and economies. Hoyle (D-OR) said current law does not make it explicitly clear whether ports can apply for Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants supporting commercial fishing, and that’s why she introduced the Support Commercial Fishing in Port Infrastructure Projects Act. The legislation states that any secured PIDP funds can be utilized to support the loading and unloading of commercially harvested fish and fish products. The bill would ensure that ports may apply for federal funding through the Maritime Administration’s PIDP for port...

$206M for Pacific Salmon Recovery Included in Draft Federal Funding Bill

19Jul

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$206M for Pacific Salmon Recovery Included in Draft Federal Funding Bill

More than $206 million for salmon recovery and marine habitat restoration are included in the draft Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies funding bill for fiscal year 2024 that was passed by the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on July 13. Sen. Patty Murray, who chairs the appropriations committee, said the funds, which are via the U.S. Department of Commerce, are a top priority for her. Murray (D-Wash.) has long made clear that she believes the federal government must play a role in funding salmon recovery efforts, particularly as part of its obligation to sovereign tribes. The package includes $76 million for National Marine Fisheries Service’s Pacific Salmon account, a $4 million increase over fiscal year 2023 funding levels, to support the agency’s work with End...

Proposed Aquaculture Legislation Prompts Concerns For Health of Wild Fish

21Jun

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Proposed Aquaculture Legislation Prompts Concerns For Health of Wild Fish

Bipartisan legislation reintroduced in the U.S. Senate to establish national standards for offshore aquaculture is drawing criticism from a group of fishermen, coastal communities and others concerned about potential adverse impact on factory fish farms on wild fish. The Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture (AQUAA) Act, reintroduced on June 7 by Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), would designate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the lead federal agency for marine aquaculture and direct NOAA to establish a permitting system for offshore aquaculture for farms in federal waters. AQUAA would also direct NOAA to lead a research and development grant program to spur innovation in the aquaculture industry. ...

FISH Act Legislation Would Blacklist Vessels, Owners Guilty of IUU Offenses

31Aug

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FISH Act Legislation Would Blacklist Vessels, Owners Guilty of IUU Offenses

Federal legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate would blacklist vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing from entering U.S. ports and waters. The Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act would bolster U.S. Coast Guard enforcement capabilities and advance international and bilateral negotiations to reach enforceable agreements and treaties, according to Senators Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., who introduced the bill on Aug. 25. The FISH Act would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a blacklist of foreign vessels and owners who have engaged in IUU fishing, direct the Coast Guard to boost its at-sea inspection of foreign vessels suspected of IUU fishing, and coordinate with regional...