[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1552-E1553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            MORATORIUM ON LARGE FISHING VESSELS IN ATLANTIC

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ROBERT A. WEYGAND

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 28, 1997

  Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of this 
legislation, I rise in strong

[[Page E1553]]

support of H.R. 1855 and would like to thank Mr. Saxton and the members 
of the Resources Committee for bringing this bill to the floor. This 
legislation will help protect the herring and mackerel fishery and the 
small fishermen in Rhode Island and along the Atlantic coast.
  Rhode Island has long been dependent upon the fishing industry as a 
major source of its economy and we must do all we can to ensure that 
the fishing industry remains viable. Therefore, we need to formulate a 
management plan to protect the long-term sustainability of our 
fisheries.
  Already, there is a Federal management plan for several types of 
fish. In fact, just recently, the House passed a bill authorizing 
$400,000 to continue studying the Atlantic striped bass stocks. 
However, there is no management strategy for herring and mackerel and 
the current data used for evaluating the fishery is debatable.
  With demand increasing for herring and mackerel we must proceed 
cautiously to avoid having the fishery collapse, as we saw in the 
1970's. The herring fishery has recovered and we must ensure its 
viability for generations to come.
  Herring and mackerel are also important for ecological reasons. 
Herring and mackerel are forage fish, supporting whales, dolphins, 
tuna, cod, flounder, and haddock. Clearly, the herring and mackerel 
fishery is important not only to those fishing for herring but also 
those fishing for other stocks. Obviously, we need to conduct a study 
and formulate a management plan for herring and mackerel.
  Of particular concern is the use of large factory trawlers to fish 
for herring and mackerel. These large trawlers could have a potentially 
enormous impact on our herring and mackerel stocks by catching a huge 
amount of available fish in a very short period of time. This will 
undoubtedly put a strain on small, local fishermen as well as the 
fishery.
  This bill will prohibit the use of large factory trawlers when 
fishing for herring and mackerel until the National Marine Fisheries 
Service can complete a survey on the abundance of herring and mackerel 
and devise a management plan to preserve the long-term sustainability 
of the fishery.
  This measure is supported by commercial and recreational fishermen 
from North Carolina to Maine. This bill will protect the fishery and 
small fishermen and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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