Congressional Bills Introduced to Restrict Bottom Trawling
Two bills recently introduced in Congress by Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska that would restrict bottom trawling are drawing kudos from commercial longliners, crabbers and salmon fishermen and criticism from the state’s pollock fishery.
The Bycatch Reduction and Mitigation Act, introduced in the U.S. House on May 22 would authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Bycatch Reduction and Engineering Program at $10 million for five years.
The Bycatch Mitigation Assistance Fund to be established under that program would be administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to help harvesters and vessel owners purchase new gear or technology to reduce bycatch, including salmon excluders.
The Bottom Trawl Clarity Act would mandate that federal fishery managem...
