[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16903]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  FISHING QUOTA STANDARDS ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS H. ALLEN

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 2003

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues Mr. Robert Simmons, Mr. 
William Delahunt, Mrs. Lois Capps, Mr. Michael Capuano, Mr. Sam Farr, 
Mr. Edward Markey, Mr. George Miller, and Ms. Lynn Woolsey in 
introducing the ``Fishing Quota Standards Act of 2003.''
  From 1996 until 2002, Congress placed a moratorium on new quota 
programs, programs which place limits on the amount of the total 
allowable catch that a fisherman may harvest within a particular 
fishery. The purpose of the moratorium was to protect fishermen, 
coastal communities, and the marine environment from the negative 
effects of unregulated quota systems by giving Congress an opportunity 
to develop national standards. When left unchecked, quota systems can 
give unfair advantages to the highest bidder--leaving the family 
fishermen out in the cold. Quota programs can also create over-
consolidation of the industry, negative impacts on local communities 
and individual fishermen, and over-harvesting of the resource. When the 
moratorium expired last September, no national standards had been put 
in place, leaving regional fishery management councils free to develop 
new quota programs.
  That is why we are introducing the ``Fishing Quota Standards Act of 
2003.'' This Act allows for the establishment of fishing quota systems 
if they allocate quota fairly among fishermen, prevent excessive 
consolidation, and include management measures designed to ensure the 
sustainability of the fishery. Both quota systems and share holders 
must come under periodic review to ensure adherence to the goals of the 
program. Standards legislation must be passed as soon as possible to 
avoid any future negative results from quota systems developed without 
any standards at all.
  This Act allows for the establishment of fishing quota systems within 
a fishery management plan or plan amendment if such systems:
  Are voted on and approved by fishermen who hold a permit to fish in 
the fishery and crew who derive seventy-five percent of their income 
from the fishery subject to the proposed fishing quota system.
  Include management measures designed to ensure the sustainability of 
the fishery and provide additional and substantial conservation 
benefits to the fishery.
  Allocate quota to distribute the public resource fairly.
  Not allow anyone to hold an excessive share of quota.
  Reserve an allocation to new entrants into the fishery.
  Minimize, to the maximum extent practicable, negative social and 
economic impacts of the system on local communities.
  Ensure adequate enforcement, management, and data collection of the 
system.
  Be effective for a set period, 7 years. A system can be altered or 
renewed to respond to fishery management issues and to ensure the 
sustainability of fish stocks.

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