Issue Position: Fisheries

Issue Position

* Introduced legislation that will bring much-needed flexibility to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2007. Under this Act, fishery rebuilding plans must meet a rigid 10-year deadline to rebuild fishing stocks to unprecedented levels. This timetable has led to consistent cuts to some fisheries, including summer flounder that hurts fishing communities economically. The flexibility called for in this legislation is needed so that unrealistic quotas are not implemented to the detriment of our fisherman.

* Introduced legislation that would prohibit the commercial harvesting of Atlantic Striped Bass in the coastal waters and the exclusive economic zone of the U.S. in order to enable coastal populations to return to historical abundances.

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