[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 82 (Monday, June 26, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H5097-H5098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS CONSERVATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION

  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4408) to reauthorize the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation 
Act, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4408

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION OF ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS 
                   CONSERVATION ACT.

       Section 7(a) of the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 1851 note) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) Authorization.--For each of fiscal years 2001, 2002, 
     and 2003, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
     out this Act--
       (1) $1,000,000 to the Secretary of Commerce; and
       (2) $250,000 to the Secretary of the Interior.''.

     SEC. 2. POPULATION STUDY OF STRIPED BASS.

       (a) Study.--The Secretaries (as that term is defined in the 
     Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act), in consultation with 
     the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, shall 
     conduct a study to determine if the distribution of year 
     classes in the Atlantic striped bass population is 
     appropriate for maintaining adequate recruitment and 
     sustainable fishing opportunities. In conducting the study, 
     the Secretaries shall consider--
       (1) long-term stock assessment data and other fishery-
     dependent and independent data for Atlantic striped bass; and
       (2) the results of peer-reviewed research funded under the 
     Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in consultation with 
     the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, shall submit 
     to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives 
     the results of the study and a long-term plan to ensure a 
     balanced and healthy population structure of Atlantic striped 
     bass, including older fish. The report shall include 
     information regarding--
       (1) the structure of the Atlantic striped bass population 
     required to maintain adequate recruitment and sustainable 
     fishing opportunities; and
       (2) recommendations for measures necessary to achieve and 
     maintain the population structure described in paragraph (1).
       (c) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Secretary of Commerce $250,000 to carry out this 
     section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
George Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood).
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today we are considering H.R. 4408, a bill proposed by 
my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), to 
reauthorize the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act.
  Striped bass are an important recreational and commercial resource on 
the East Coast. The original Striped Bass Conservation Act was enacted 
in 1984. The act provides a means to enforce a single interstate 
management plan.
  H.R. 4408 is a simple bill to reauthorize the Striped Bass Act. The 
bill provides funding for striped bass research that will be carried 
out through the National Marine Fisheries Service. H.R. 4408 authorizes 
a total of $4.5 million over 3 years.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4408 is noncontroversial and is supported by the 
administration. I urge an ``aye'' vote on this important conservation 
measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic striped bass is an important commercial and 
recreational fish found along the U.S. East Coast from the Saint 
Lawrence River in Canada to the Saint John's River in Florida.
  The Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act was first passed in 1984, 
and

[[Page H5098]]

since then has been an effective mechanism for enforcing the interstate 
fishery management plan for the striped bass, and I urge my colleagues 
in the House to support this legislation.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that today the House is 
considering H.R. 4408, a bill to reauthorize the Atlantic Striped Bass 
Conservation Act. Striped bass are extremely important to many people 
on the east coast, including my home State of New Jersey. In New 
Jersey, commercial fishing is prohibited but recreational anglers spend 
a great deal of time and money pursuing striped bass. These anglers 
support State tourism industries, including charter boat captains and 
bait and tackle stores.
  I introduced H.R. 4408 to continue the recovery program for this 
important species. The recovery of this species stands as a rare 
example of bringing an irreplaceable resource back from the brink of 
disaster. Reauthorization of the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act 
is a critical component of the management strategy for striped bass.
  The original striped bass legislation was enacted in 1984, several 
years after the Atlantic Coast stock of striped bass suffered a severe 
population crash. The Striped Bass Act provides a means to enforce a 
single interstate management plan through the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission. As it turns out, this was the action that was 
needed to save the species. Over the last 16 years this program has 
succeeded beyond any expectations. In 1984, the outlook was truly bleak 
for striped bass and the fishermen who depend on them. Striper 
populations have since recovered to fishable levels. The stocks appear 
to be strong, although there is some concern that we have continued to 
allow overfishing in some areas.
  H.R. 4408 is a simple bill to reauthorize the Striped Bass Act. The 
bill provides funding for the ongoing striped bass research that has 
been carried out through the National Marine Fisheries Service at 
universities such as Rutgers. The restoration program relies on this 
research to make informed, science-based management decisions. H.R. 
4408 authorizes an additional $200,000 a year to carry out these 
studies. It is my hope that this additional funding will be used to 
focus on the predator/prey relationships between striped bass and 
bluefish, as required by the act.
  H.R. 4408 also includes $250,000 to study the population structure of 
Atlantic striped bass. I am concerned that the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission has allowed fishermen to overharvest the larger 
and older striped bass. Stock assessment data for 1998 indicate that 
fish over 8 years old are rare, and that the fish may have been 
decimated by fishing pressure. These bigger fish are not only valued by 
the recreational fishermen in my district, but they play an important 
ecological role in ensuring sufficient numbers of young fish in the 
next generation of striped bass. The larger fish produce proportionally 
more eggs, and are the most important age group during the spring 
spawning runs.
  Despire their importance, reauthorization of the Striped Bass Act and 
continuing research on the species is not enough. Congress needs to 
provide adequate funding to NOAA and the National Marine Fisheries 
Service to continue regular stock assessment and data collection for 
this species. We also need to continue to investigate other factors 
that affect striped bass, such as pollution, environmental change, and 
competition with other species. We need the best information possible 
to protect the gains that we have made.
  Mr. Speaker, today we have the opportunity to build upon our past 
successes with Atlantic striped bass, and I urge the House to support 
this measure.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I speak today in support of the 
reauthorization of the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act.
  The Atlantic striped bass is a valuable coastal resource and one of 
the most important fisheries for recreational anglers--especially 
within the Sixth Congressional District of New Jersey. As a senior 
member of the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and 
Oceans, I have a long history of involvement in protecting, preserving, 
and enhancing the striped bass. In fact, I have sponsored legislation 
to designate the striped bass as a federal gamefish. This bill would 
prohibit the commercial harvesting of striped bass and reserve this 
resource for recreational catches only, therefore ensuring a healthy 
sustainable recreational fishery.
  The recovery of the striped bass fishery since the crash of the late 
1970's is a example of successful state and federal cooperation and 
angler support over the last two decades. By the numbers, the Atlantic 
striped bass fishery appears to be thriving and healthy, but 
maintaining these harvests will require continued coordination and 
careful management.
  The 1998-99 harvest data show a harvest increase for both commercial 
and recreational fishermen over previous years. In fact, harvest levels 
have been increasing steadily since the moratorium on striped bass 
fishing was lifted in 1990. In its 1999 report to Congress, the 
Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission states that the 1999 stock 
assessment revealed cause for concern that striped bass were fished 
above the target level in 1998 and 1999.
  Of particular concern was the finding that fishing mortality for 
older (age 8 and up) fish exceeded the definition of overfishing in 
1998. These age 8 and older fish represent the most important age class 
for recreational fishermen, and provide a large percentage of the 
spawning biomass.
  While these stock assessment figures raise concerns about the harvest 
of larger fish, the fishery does not appear to be in danger of collapse 
in the near future. However, I believe we must take precautionary 
measures now to avoid that potential threat of a collapse in the 
future.
  In 1979, Congress first authorized the Emergency Striped Bass Study 
as part of the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act to address the problem 
of declining striped bass stocks. This legislation was later expanded 
by the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act of 1984 which ensured 
that the states would comply with a coast-wide fishery management plan. 
Since its inception, this bill has been a positive step in managing the 
Atlantic striped bass fishery. It is for that reason that I support 
passage of the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Reauthorization.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4408, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the 
yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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