[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9983]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                         PROTECTING OUR OCEANS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SUZAN K. DelBENE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2014

  Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Capitol Hill Ocean Week 
to highlight the critical role our oceans play in our lives, our 
economy, and for so many marine species.
  In 2012, the Pacific Region's seafood industry generated $7.5 billion 
in sales for Washington state while seafood processors and dealers 
accounted for 16,000 jobs.
  The Magnuson Stevens Act, the law which governs sound stewardship and 
management of our fisheries is due for reauthorization. Unfortunately, 
the reauthorization bill moving through the House would take us 
backwards at a critical time.
  The bill would roll back a number of conservation provisions at the 
expense of numerous efforts to increase fish populations. In fact, the 
bill would allow overfishing on already depleted populations. In my 
district, a commercial fishery disaster declaration was made for the 
Fraser River sockeye salmon fishery this year. Our tribes have been 
good stewards of the fishery, but due to a changing climate beyond 
their control, fish populations are decreasing.
  This bill does not address our changing climate, such as the 
increasing acidification of our oceans. I urge my colleagues to instead 
pursue policies that will preserve our oceans for generations to come.

                          ____________________