[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 582 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 582

     Recognizing the South Carolina Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood 
  Initiative and the benefits it provides to coastal South Carolina, 
South Carolina fishermen, South Carolina restaurants, and the consumers 
     of seafood in coastal South Carolina, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2007

Mr. Brown of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, 
   Mr. Barrett of South Carolina, Mr. Inglis of South Carolina, Mr. 
Spratt, and Mr. Clyburn) submitted the following resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to 
  the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Recognizing the South Carolina Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood 
  Initiative and the benefits it provides to coastal South Carolina, 
South Carolina fishermen, South Carolina restaurants, and the consumers 
     of seafood in coastal South Carolina, and for other purposes.

Whereas seafood is a good, healthy source of protein that has been shown to have 
        many beneficial effects on human health;
Whereas studies have shown that seafood consumption has the potential to 
        increase brainpower, reduce the likelihood of strokes, and reduce the 
        impacts of Alzheimer's disease;
Whereas the national average of seafood consumption is only 16.5 pounds per 
        person per year, and while this has increased in recent years, in the 
        last year the world average was over 36 pounds per year;
Whereas the United States currently has an annual trade deficit in seafood of 
        more than $9,000,000,000;
Whereas 80 percent of the seafood consumed in the United States comes from 
        foreign sources;
Whereas South Carolina contains 2,876 miles of tidal shoreline, 10,000 square 
        miles of Continental Shelf, 500,000 acres of tidal bottoms, and 504,450 
        acres of salt marsh (constituting 20 percent of the East Coast total);
Whereas the Charleston Bump and ocean upwellings along the South Carolina coast 
        allow nutrients to increase the productivity of South Carolina's coastal 
        ocean waters, which supports important commercial and recreational 
        fisheries;
Whereas South Carolina boasts more than 200 varieties of fish and shellfish and 
        approximately 30 of these are commercially harvested;
Whereas the commercial seafood industry in South Carolina landed almost 
        10,000,000 pounds of seafood in 2005 and the average dock-side value has 
        been almost $25,000,000;
Whereas local fishermen buy their bait, fuel, groceries, and other supplies, 
        berth their boats at local marinas, and patronize other local businesses 
        that are necessary for the fishermen to do their jobs, so the cumulative 
        benefit to the local economy of coastal South Carolina is significantly 
        more than the ex-vessel value of the seafood caught;
Whereas the South Carolina Aquarium and the Sustainable Seafood Initiative, 
        which represents a pioneering consortium of local fisheries, 
        conservation partners, and restaurants under the direction and 
        management of the South Carolina Aquarium, has created a program to 
        encourage the consumption of healthy, high quality locally caught 
        seafood;
Whereas the Sustainable Seafood Initiative bases its recommendations on those 
        seafood species that are caught under the regulations developed by the 
        National Marine Fisheries Service, the South Atlantic Fishery Management 
        Council, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and 
        recognizes that not all fishermen in the world follow the regulations 
        that United States fishermen are required to follow;
Whereas such program promotes the use of locally caught, sustainable, and well-
        managed fish in South Carolina's restaurants, and now has a total 80 
        partners;
Whereas such program seeks clarity in the identification and marketing of 
        seafood to South Carolina consumers through a public education program 
        both in the Aquarium and through its Web site;
Whereas the program supports the economic health of environmentally friendly 
        commercial fisheries, bringing sustainable local seafood to the people 
        of South Carolina; and
Whereas the Sustainable Seafood Initiative benefits local fishermen, as well as 
        their local suppliers, local restaurants, and consumers: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the consumption of healthy seafood;
            (2) supports local fishermen and fishing communities;
            (3) supports the education of seafood consumers;
            (4) supports efforts to encourage the consumption of 
        locally caught seafood products; and
            (5) supports the Sustainable Seafood Initiative of the 
        South Carolina Aquarium.
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