[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E661-E662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE PACIFIC HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES CONSERVATION ACT OF 2002

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                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 30, 2002

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to introduce the Pacific 
Highly Migratory Species Conservation Act of 2002, which amends the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to keep the 
West Coast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) free of pelagic long-line 
fishing.
  For those new to the issue, pelagic long-lining is a fishing method 
that uses long-lines more than 20 miles in length, which are suspended 
horizontally over the water by surface floats. Attached to that long-
line are lines and hooks that dangle vertically in the water for as 
long as twelve hours. Those baited hooks are meant to catch highly 
migratory species of fish such as swordfish and tuna, but they have the 
unintended consequence of also catching many other sea creatures 
swimming by in search of a meal. On the East Coast, the species that 
are caught in this gear by mistake (called by-catch) include endangered 
sea turtles, dolphins, pilot whales, porpoises and even sea birds. 
These creatures are stuck on the longline until it is reeled in, which 
takes several hours. Many cannot withstand the long soak time while 
stuck on the line, and they have no escape from predators.
  A lesson from history is proof of the need to address this problem: 
For over 150 years on the East Coast, commercial swordfish harpooners 
maintained a strong viable fishery by targeting fish that were adults 
and that have spawned more than once. After the introduction of drift 
long-lining in the late 1960s, swordfish and marlin stocks decreased at 
a rapid rate. In fact, it took less than 30 years to virtually bring 
these species to their dangerously low levels of today. We have a 
thriving harpoon industry in California with exceptionally high quality 
product that should be protected.
  Congress has debated how to restrict or eliminate the use of the 
pelagic long-line gear in East Coast and Gulf of Mexico waters over the 
last three years. Unfortunately, the National Marine Fisheries Service 
is considering allowing the experimental use of these non-selective and 
destructive long-lines within the 200 mile West Coast EEZ. This would 
have a devastating impact on all West Coast pelagic fisheries, but most 
particularly in California, where long-lining has not been previously 
permitted.
  My bill will protect the species in the West Coast waters from long-
line gear, remove pelagic longline gear from the West Coast EEZ

[[Page E662]]

from the Canadian border with Washington State to the Mexican border 
with California. Our marine ecosystems will be protected from the 
devastating impact of the gear and serve as a successful example of 
sound fisheries management. In California's commercial fisheries, there 
are more selective ways to target economically valuable pelagic 
species. We should not let the mistakes made in the East Coast and Gulf 
of Mexico waters replicate themselves on the West Coast.

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