Senator LeMieux: "Fishermen Are Losing Their Livelihoods. NOAA Has to Act Now."

Press Release

U.S. Senator George LeMieux (R-FL) today called on top officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to act immediately to improve the scientific methods by which the health of Florida's fisheries is measured. In questioning NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco, LeMieux said current methodology is flawed resulting in closures and fishing bans that are harming Florida's economy.

"I just want to make the point that we need to be sounding the alarm. This is not a situation that is going to be a problem six months from now, this is not a situation that is going to be a problem a year from now, this is a situation where right now families who have been fishing for generations are going out of business. They are losing their livelihood" LeMieux said. "We can all agree that we need the money to be spent on getting the proper scientific analysis and getting independent analysis so that we know that the decisions being made are appropriate."

At the hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee's subcommittee that oversees fisheries, LeMieux also reiterated his invitation to Dr. Lubchenco to travel to Florida to view first-hand the health of the state's fisheries and talk with members of the recreational fishing community about the impact of current regulations.

BACKGROUND: Senator LeMieux joined hundreds of concerned fisherman on Capitol Hill last week at the "United We Fish" rally. The rally brought attention to the need to require practical considerations be a part of maintaining and restoring fisheries. LeMieux is a cosponsor of S.1255, the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2009 introduced by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY).

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