Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Thank you for yielding me the time and for recognizing that it is the great State of Maine.

Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment, which would block funding for the implementation of the National Ocean Policy.

This important policy seeks to improve the coordinated management of our oceans and coasts to address the most pressing issues facing our oceans, our resources, and our coastal communities. I happen to live on an island 12 miles off the coast of Maine, so I am well aware of the need for the improved coordination between Federal agencies and the inclusion of stakeholders in the policymaking process.

The National Ocean Policy brings together a variety of agencies at a single table, and it improves government efficiency and decision outcomes.

The work and research conducted under the National Ocean Policy supports tens of millions of jobs, which, in turn, generate billions of dollars for our coastal communities.

For example, in Maine, working waterfronts are critically important to Maine's coastal economy. These working waterfronts are critical for a variety of water-dependent activities, like ports and fishing docks, that are at the heart of our coastal culture and economy.

These water-dependent businesses, many of which are icons in Maine, are struggling to maintain their access to water in the face of increasing development pressure.

The National Ocean Policy will provide a framework to preserve waterfront access to traditional groups like fishermen. It is an extremely important issue for fishermen and the residents of Maine.

One of the constituents in my district, Richard Nelson, a lobsterman, says: ``The ocean is our workplace, our cultural heritage, and it economically sustains us and our extended communities.''

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting wise stewardship of our Nation's oceans and our ocean economy by opposing this amendment.

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Ms. PINGREE of Maine. Mr. Chairman, I want to oppose the amendment offered here tonight because I think we shouldn't be prohibiting any new catch share programs because it is such an important tool to manage our Nation's fisheries. This effectively supersedes the Regional Fisheries Management Council process that was already set up by Congress.

We have a lot of families in Maine who have very deep ties to the ocean, generations of Mainers who have worked in the fishing industry, but fisheries are facing a crisis.

Every year, our fishermen struggle to make a living on fewer fish and fewer trips going out fishing. The New England Fisheries Management Council is working very hard to develop solutions for these challenges by implementing catch share programs as an effective way to manage the fisheries.

This results in success stories, many that we have seen in Maine. Take a look at Port Clyde, one of our largest inshore fisheries communities. The fishermen in this sector have developed a fishermen's cooperative, Port Clyde Fresh Catch, as a way to market their fish using environmentally conscious fishing methods.

The result is sustainable fish, better quality fish, better prices for the fishermen. Membership in the sector has led to a profitable and sustainable on and offshore fishing industry.

I just want to say that fishermen in New England are not being forced into enrolling in the catch share programs. They can choose to stay in the common pool fishery or join a sector, but if we remove catch share as a management option, we would only be hindering fisheries management efforts around our Nation, stifling the creativity and innovation within the fishing industry, and preventing fishermen from working in an industry that is safer and more profitable.

Catch shares work. I have seen the benefits firsthand in Maine. I don't think we should be denying fishing communities the chance to improve their industry by removing a management option.

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