[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 814 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 814

  Encouraging the elimination of fishing subsidies that contribute to 
   overcapacity in the world's commercial fishing fleets and lead to 
                   overfishing of global fish stocks.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 9, 2007

 Mr. Kind (for himself and Mr. Brady of Texas) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Encouraging the elimination of fishing subsidies that contribute to 
   overcapacity in the world's commercial fishing fleets and lead to 
                   overfishing of global fish stocks.

Whereas 2,600,000,000 people in the world get at least 20 percent of their total 
        dietary animal protein intake from fish;
Whereas the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has found 
        that 75 percent of the world's fisheries are currently overexploited, 
        fully exploited, significantly depleted, or recovering from 
        overexploitation;
Whereas countries throughout the world are currently being forced to deal with 
        the negative social and economic consequences that result from the 
        overexploitation of crucial fisheries stocks;
Whereas the global fishing fleet capacity is estimated to be considerably 
        greater than is needed to catch what the ocean can sustainably produce;
Whereas the United States Congress recognized the threat of overfishing to our 
        oceans and economy and therefore included the requirement to end 
        overfishing in United States commercial fisheries by 2011 in the 
        Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act 
        of 2006;
Whereas the United States Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans 
        Commission identified overcapitalization of the global commercial 
        fishing fleets as a major contributor to the decline of economically 
        important fish populations;
Whereas the United Nations Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing clearly 
        articulates that the United States and all countries should take actions 
        to prevent overfishing and excess fishing capacity;
Whereas scientific studies indicate that subsidies result in fishing activity 
        that is beyond biologically sustainable limits;
Whereas harmful fishing subsidies encourage overcapitalization and overfishing, 
        support destructive fishing practices that would not otherwise be 
        economically viable, and amount to at least $20,000,000,000 annually, an 
        amount equivalent to approximately 25 percent of the global commercial 
        trade in fish;
Whereas harmful fishing subsidies are concentrated in relatively few countries, 
        putting other fishing countries, including the United States, at an 
        economic disadvantage;
Whereas the scope and magnitude of global fisheries subsidies are so massive 
        that eliminating subsidies that contribute to increasing capacity is one 
        of the most significant actions that can be taken to help reverse the 
        decline in global fish stocks;
Whereas new multilateral trade rules on subsidies that distort production, trade 
        and the sustainability of fisheries resources are necessary to restore 
        global fish stocks to sustainable levels;
Whereas it is essential that the United States continue to be a world leader in 
        advancing policies to eliminate fishing subsidies that promote 
        overcapacity and overfishing;
Whereas the United States has represented to the World Trade Organization that a 
        broad prohibition addressing all elements that support fishing capacity 
        is needed to clarify and improve the international trade rules on 
        subsidies; and
Whereas members of the World Trade Organization, as part of the Doha Development 
        Agenda (Doha Development Round), are engaged in historic negotiations to 
        end harmful fishing subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and 
        overfishing: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives urge the United States 
to seek, in the Doha Development Round negotiations, effective 
multilateral agreements to prohibit fishing subsidies that promote--
            (1) overcapitalization;
            (2) overfishing; and
            (3) illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
                                 <all>