[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 171 (Wednesday, November 18, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H13117-H13118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FLORIDA'S FISHERMEN NEED OUR HELP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have been to the floor of this 
Chamber on several occasions to discuss the tremendous economic 
hardships being shouldered by the residents of my congressional 
district of south Florida. This evening I would like to highlight the 
men and women of Florida's commercial and recreational fishing 
industries, and their efforts to weather this economic storm.
  Mr. Speaker, Florida's recreational fishing industry is the largest 
in the Nation. Its economic impact to our State is to the tune of $5.3 
billion, and more than 5,400 jobs are generated by this industry. 
Similarly, Florida's commercial fishing industry is nearly 13,000 
strong and contributes a staggering $1.2 billion to our economy.
  The strength of Florida's fishing industries is due largely to the 
diversity and the abundance of species within the Gulf of Mexico and 
the South Atlantic area. There are grouper and snapper, wahoo and 
yellowfin tuna, not to mention Keys lobster and stone crab. Thanks to 
this diversity, Florida's fishing industry is particularly resilient in 
the face of increased zoning regulations, bag limits, and even fishery 
closures. Our fishermen understand that maintaining a robust, healthy 
fishery through appropriate regulation is the key to their economic 
success.
  However, present Federal action to implement multiple fishing 
regulations will have a chilling effect on this historic and important 
industry. In particular, Mr. Speaker, the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council is considering regulations which include but are not 
limited to: a complete ban on deepwater grouper fishing; annual catch 
limits on black grouper and red grouper; and catch limits on red 
snapper fishing.

[[Page H13118]]

  The comprehensive nature of these prohibitions will leave our 
fishermen with little or no alternative for their economic livelihood. 
These prohibitions, compounded by a reduction in tourism throughout 
south Florida, and that includes the Florida Keys, will force 
generations of Florida fishermen to walk away from their boats in 
search of other types of employment. This is unacceptable.
  That is why I have called on Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke to 
reconsider these ill-timed proposals. Additionally, I have asked 
Secretary Locke to refrain from implementing any emergency rules which 
impose short-term restrictions on Florida's fisheries. These emergency 
rulings completely circumvent the public comment process, which is an 
essential element to any fishery management plan. Sound science is also 
a critical component to sound management.
  My congressional colleagues and I have called on the House Natural 
Resources Committee to conduct a hearing on the legislation introduced 
by Congressman John Mica and Congressman Henry Brown which would 
require the Department of Commerce to conduct a non-biased, science-
based study on the health of the red snapper population in the South 
Atlantic.
  My colleagues from Florida understand that scientific data collection 
processes need to be improved, and economic impacts must be taken into 
account when considering a fishery closure. I have also asked the 
Department of Commerce to provide economic assistance to those 
fishermen and businesses that cannot survive the restrictions that are 
being implemented.
  For Keys recreational angler Andy Griffith, the upcoming 4-month 
grouper closure has resulted in a 90 percent loss of business for the 
2010 fishing season. His season for 2010 will only be 2 months long. 
For the rest of the year his boats will sit by the dock racking up 
insurance costs. Fishermen like Andy need economic relief. They need 
our help.
  The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, last 
amended by Congress in the year 2007, directs how the Federal 
Government will manage saltwater fisheries. But the lack of flexibility 
provided to local managers in this law is of serious concern to many of 
us. That is why I support legislation which would amend the Magnuson-
Stevens Act to provide flexibility to State regulators and regional 
fishery management councils in their work to rebuild healthy fisheries.
  Mr. Speaker, the livelihood of Florida's fishing industry demands 
that we act.

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