[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10803-H10804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS CONSERVATION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1997

  Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 1658) to reauthorize and amend 
the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act and related laws.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Senate amendments:
       Page 9, line 16, strike out ``Secretary'' and insert 
     ``Secretaries''.
       Page 9, line 21, strike out ``Secretary'' and insert 
     ``Secretaries''.
       Page 10, line 3, strike out [Secretary] and insert 
     Secretaries
       Page 11, after line 10 insert:
       ``(b) Socio-Economic Study.--The Secretaries, in 
     consultation with with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
     Commission, shall conduct a study of the socio-economic 
     benefits of the Atlantic striped bass resource. The 
     Secretaries shall issue a report to the Congress concerning 
     the findings of this study no later than September 30, 1998.
       Page 11, line 11, strike out [(b)] and insert: (c)
       Page 12, strike out all after line 23, over to and 
     including line 11 on page 13 and insert:
       ``(a) Regulation of Fishing in Exclusive Economic Zone.--
     The Secretary shall promulgate regulations governing fishing 
     for Atlantic striped bass in the exclusive economic zone that 
     the Secretary determines--
       ``(1) are consistent with the national standards set forth 
     in section 301 of the Magnuson Act (16 U.S.C. 1851);
       ``(2) are compatible with the Plan and each Federal 
     moratorium in effect on fishing for Atlantic striped bass 
     within the coastal waters of a coastal State;
       ``(3) ensure the effectiveness of State regulations on 
     fishing for Atlantic striped bass within the coastal waters 
     of a coastal State; and
       ``(4) are sufficient to assure the long-term conservation 
     of Atlantic striped bass populations.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Saxton] and the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Kildee] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton].
  Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SAXTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased that we are on the verge 
of enacting H.R. 1658, the Striped Bass Conservation Act of 1997. The 
House passed two prior versions of this bill in the last Congress, but, 
regrettably, they were not acted upon by the other body. Today, 
however, we can complete the legislative process by voting to agree to 
the Senate amendments to this important legislation.
  The first sentence of the Striped Bass Conservation Act of 1984 
states that the Atlantic striped bass are of historic importance and of 
great benefit to the Nation. I would like to assure all of my 
colleagues of the truth of this statement. These fish are renowned for 
their fighting ability and have been an important part of the lives of 
generations of east coast fishermen from all parts of the Northeast.
  When this country was settled, striped bass were one of the most 
abundant natural resources that staggered early explorers. Captain John 
Smith, exploring the Chesapeake Bay in 1608, wrote that striped bass 
were so abundant that he thought he could walk across the bay on the 
backs of stripers without wetting his feet.
  Unfortunately, the striped bass population has not remained all that 
bountiful. In the 1970's, heavy fishing pressure on the species 
coincided with water pollution and other environmental changes, and the 
population plummeted. The thriving industry that stripped bass had 
supported was nearly wiped out, and it seemed that this flagship 
species might disappear completely.
  Congress responded to the crisis by enacting the Striped Bass 
Conservation Act of 1984. The act put teeth in the existing interstate 
management plan for

[[Page H10804]]

striped bass. It created the Federal enforcement mechanism for the 
plan, authorized studies of the causes of the decline, and provided for 
regular population assessments. This law assured that the States would 
adopt the tough regulations that were required to bring the species 
back.
  Madam Speaker, the Stripped Bass Act has turned out to be a huge 
success. After a period of persistently low populations in the 1980's, 
the species has rebounded to its highest levels in the last 30 years. 
The sacrifices that fishermen coast-wide have made to bring the 
stripers back have paid off, and my constituents in New Jersey as well 
as all striper fishermen from North Carolina to Maine can once again 
count this fish among the abundant natural resources with which our 
region is blessed.
  This bill reauthorizes the Striped Bass Act for the next 3 years. It 
authorizes continued funding for the population assessments and adds 
studies of stripers to related species. Although stripers are 
recovered, they are still at risk from the numerous natural and man-
made factors. This bill will ensure that we remain vigilant so that we 
can protect the gains that we have made in recent years.
  The House passed this bill on July 8; the Senate has now passed the 
legislation with several amendments. The amendments make small changes 
related to the Secretary of Interior's role in enforcement, authorize a 
socioeconomic study on the benefits of Atlantic striped bass resource, 
and clarify provisions regarding striped bass regulation in Federal 
waters. These changes are not only acceptable, they actually enhance 
the bill. In fact, I wish I had thought of them myself.
  Reauthorizing the Striped Bass Act has been a long process. 
Fortunately, as William Woods of the Massachusetts Bay Colony said in 
1635, men are soon wearied with other fish, yet they never are with 
bass.
  I strongly urge all of my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 1658 with 
the improvements adopted by the other body.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. KILDEE. First of all, Madam Speaker, I would like to commend the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] for his diligent work in this 
area, and I rise in strong support of this legislation.
  The remarkable recovery of the striped bass fishery a little more 
than a decade after the passage of the original Striped Bass 
Conservation Act is truly a success story, demonstrating that 
conservation can work, and, again, I think we all are grateful to Mr. 
Saxton for his deep interest and diligence in pursuing this.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kind words. Madam 
Speaker, at this time I have, as far as I know, no additional speakers, 
and so with just one thought I am prepared to yield back the balance of 
my time.
  I was made aware earlier today that there is a regulatory problem off 
the shores of Massachusetts that relates to Nantucket and the State 
waters there and the Federal waters through which fishermen must pass 
on their way back to the mainland.
  I understand that there is a regulatory issue, and I have talked with 
the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Kennedy] about this issue, and we 
both have agreed that we will try our best in the first couple of 
months of 1998 to deal with the National Marine Fisheries Service 
relative to these issues.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise in strong support of H.R. 
1658, the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act Amendments. The 
remarkable recovery of the striped bass fishery, a little more than a 
decade after the passage of the original Striped Bass Conservation Act, 
is a success story, demonstrating that fish conservation can work.
  For the last three decades, Atlantic striped bass stocks have been 
declining due to overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction and other 
factors. Recently, however, the Atlantic striped bass stocks have grown 
and are slowly returning to their previous abundance. Many Atlantic 
Coast states have recognized the significance of this growth and 
understand the pressure that commercial fishing interests may have on 
breeding stocks. In response, states such as New Jersey, Connecticut, 
Pennsylvania and Georgia, and several others, have passed gamefish laws 
or have prohibited the Atlantic striped bass commercial angling.
  The management program established under this Act was, at the time of 
its inception in 1984, unique. It relies on the states to develop 
regulations for their waters that are consistent with the Atlantic 
States Marine Fisheries Commission's management plan for striped bass. 
If the state fails in its efforts, a federal moratorium is imposed. 
This plan was so successful, that last year the Commission declared the 
striped bass to be fully recovered. Today, the fish are being found in 
record numbers up and down the coast.
  Mr. Speaker, as I previously stated, striped bass populations were 
placed in jeopardy due to severe over-harvesting. Support of this 
legislation would allow us to better understand striped bass stock and 
management plans that not only benefit the striped bass stock, but the 
striped bass fishing community as well. Furthermore, these amendments 
increase public participation in the preparation of striped bass 
management plans. This fishery is one of the most important fisheries 
for marine recreational anglers. In 1995, over a million anglers made 
almost seven million trips and nearly spent 160 million dollars in 
pursuit of this fish. We must support this legislation and ensure that 
over a decade striped bass conservation and restoration is not erased.
  Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Saxton] that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 1658.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendments were 
concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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