[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 79 (Friday, June 14, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CLELAND:
  S. 2627. A bill to protect marine species off the coast of Georgia; 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. CLELAND. Madam President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
to help protect marine species in the exclusive economic zone off the 
coast of Georgia. Shark gillnetting causes bycatch of many marine 
species, including valuable gamefish such as tarpon, red drum, king 
mackerel, and cobia and leatherback sea turtles, a protected species. 
Gillnets are already prohibited in Georgia's State waters, and my 
legislation would also prohibit this gear from being used in the 
Federal waters off the coast of Georgia. This legislation is supported 
by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which has jurisdiction 
over the State's coastal resources.
  My proposal does not prohibit shark fishing but rather affects the 
means of fishing. Shark fishers can use other methods for fishing such 
as long-lines or hook and line as alternatives. Additionally, this bill 
only affects the waters off the coast of Georgia. The neighboring 
States are still allowed to handle the bycatch, enforcement, and other 
issues as they believe is appropriate.
  The waters affected by the legislation are home to many types of 
marine life that are vitally important to Georgia's traditional and 
expanding charter fishery, as well as the state's coastal communities 
and tourism industry. These businesses are negatively impacted by the 
shark gillnetting bycatch rates and its impacts on gamefish 
populations, including some already overfished stocks. In August 2000, 
I was contacted by some of these Georgia business people who are 
concerned over what they see as a dramatic decrease in the fish 
population and about the future viability of their businesses. These 
citizens work to create a delicate balance between the environment and 
their livelihood by limiting their catches and releasing fish to help 
insure the sustained health of local fish stocks and their habitats. 
Shark gillnetting has disrupted this balance. My legislation is the 
first step to bringing this balance back in line.
  As the Commerce Committee, of which I am a member, begins the 
reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management 
Act, I will work with Chairman Hollings to address this issue. It is at 
once an environmental issue, a small business issue, a state 
sovereignty issue, and it is the right thing to do.
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