Congress, Scientists Testify in Favor of Freedom To Fish
House of Representatives hearing debates marine protected areas.
by Forbes Darby
Alexandria, Va.—The efficacy of marine protected areas (MPAs) was debated Thursday during testimony given before a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives by a panel of respected marine scientists and top Federal agency administrators.
The hearing was led off by Democratic Representative Collin Peterson from Minnesota who stressed to his colleagues the need for clear guidelines on the use of MPAs so as to protect the public’s access to coastal waters. Representative Peterson has sponsored legislation to this effect entitled the Freedom To Fish Act (H.R. 3547). The bill enjoys strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate where Senators John Breaux (D-LA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) have introduced companion legislation (S. 1314).
Representatives from the Department of Commerce and Department of Interior spoke next. These two federal agencies share jurisdiction for managing much of our marine resources. Both speakers testified that "ecologically sustainable use" should be protected and went on to say that conservation and sustainable use are not mutually exclusive concepts. Both officials stressed that MPAs are among their fishery management tools and that any decision to institute a closure must involve significant public involvement and support.
Gordon Robertson, vice president at the American Sportfishing Association, called these statements "reassuring" and "perfectly in line with what the recreational fishing community has been saying all along." He noted that recreational anglers land only 2% of all marine fish taken and yet support much of the tab for fisheries management through the payment of excise taxes and license fees.
The oversight hearing then turned to a panel of scientific experts. Speaking first was Dr. Edward Houde, Chair of the National Research Council’s Committee on Marine Protected Areas. He told the subcommittee, "We’re not yet ready for large marine reserve networks." He noted the need for more scientific research to be done before establishing these closed areas.
The expert panel also included Dr. Robert Shipp. Dr. Shipp, Marine Sciences Chair at the University of South Alabama, released a report last month indicating that MPAs where largely unnecessary for the management of most recreational fish stocks.
"I am not against the use of MPAs in certain cases and in fact I voted in favor of the Dry Tortugas closure while chair of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council,’ began Dr. Shipp. "However, as a fishery management tool, no-take MPAs are not as efficient as traditional management measures such as size limits, catch restrictions and temporary closed seasons," Dr. Shipp told the subcommittee.
When questioned, Dr. Houde remarked, "I agree with just about everything that Dr. Shipp has to say… marine fish have been managed effectively through traditional management measures."
Dr. Houde did go on to express concern regarding implementation of these measures. An anxiety shared by the ASA and other organizations speaking on behalf of the Freedom To Fish Act and common-sense use of MPAs. "Regardless of whether a network of MPAs are ever put in place, the vast majority of ocean areas will remain subject to traditional management measures so we must work to improve the implementation of our existing tools," said ASA’s Robertson. "Much good has been accomplished since the 1996 Sustainable Fisheries Act and we must maintain the resolve to ensure a vibrant ocean for the public use and enjoyment."
Click here for more information on the Freedom To Fish Act.
