[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14145]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1605 BY FAIRCLOTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROGER WILLIAMS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 11, 2015

  Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following resolution as a 
memorial.

                               Resolution

       Whereas, Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is a 
     problem with serious economic, environmental, and security 
     implications; and
       Whereas, Illegal fishing accounts for economic losses of 
     billions of dollars per year globally, and millions of those 
     lost dollars result from poaching in the Gulf of Mexico; such 
     activity is largely conducted by foreign fleets at the 
     expense of United States fishermen, coastal communities, and 
     the sustainability of global fish stocks; and
       Whereas, Illegal fishing is of particular consequence in 
     Texas, where the Gulf Coast waters supply seafood for the 
     American public and support the hospitality industry, 
     tourism-related businesses, and the vibrant recreational and 
     commercial fishing industry; not only does illegal fishing 
     result in economic losses to the Texas fishing industry and 
     other coastal businesses, but it also is a threat to the 
     sustainability of our fisheries and to the Texas Gulf Coast 
     ecosystem; and
       Whereas, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the 
     United States Coast Guard are to be commended for their 
     partnership in investigating and apprehending foreign vessels 
     engaged in illegal activity along the Texas-Mexico border; 
     and
       Whereas, Foreign nationals fishing illegally in U.S. waters 
     compete for local stock, and they disregard state and federal 
     laws on catch limits; when they sell their fish in the United 
     States, they can flood the market with a cheaper product; 
     moreover, they often use banned longline netting that 
     imperils marine mammals and sea turtles; and
       Whereas, Vessels involved with illegal fishing are also 
     associated with, other crimes, including drug trafficking, 
     human trafficking, and illegal immigration, and the incursion 
     by these foreign fishing vessels into U.S. waters constitutes 
     a violation of our sovereignty: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 84th 
     Texas Legislature hereby express its commitment to the 
     elimination of illegal fishing, to the long-term conservation 
     of Texas marine resources, and to the protection of the Texas 
     Gulf Coast fishing and coastal communities; and, be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Texas House of Representatives hereby 
     respectfully urge the United States Congress to take action 
     to protect our coastal borders and to end illegal, 
     unreported, and unregulated fishing in our sovereign waters; 
     and, be it further
       Resolved, That the chief clerk forward official copies of 
     this resolution to the president of the United States, to the 
     president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of 
     Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all 
     members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request 
     that this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record 
     as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of 
     America.

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