The U.S. House of Representatives last week approved an amendment from Congressman Steve Southerland that would prohibit federal funding for expansion of so-called “catch shares” in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic fisheries during the coming fiscal year.

Southerland’s amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations act was approved by a 220-191 margin. The appropriations bill must still be approved by the U.S. Senate.

“This is a small victory for recreational and commercial fishermen, and coastal communities,” said Chip Blackburn, who captains the charter boat Miss Mary out of Mexico Beach.  “Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to try and implement an agenda.

“What is going to take to wake people up? Congressman Southerland has made himself a target doing the right thing for his district and they have made him a number one target for destruction.”

In addition, the House also passed an amendment to the same budget bill, sponsored by Congressman Bill Flores (R-TX), that prohibits federal funding to be used to implement a Presidential Executive Order (EO) that created the National Ocean Policy (NOP) in 2010, which includes the “catch share” or Limited Access Privilege Programs in the Gulf and Atlantic fisheries.

In July 2010, President Obama signed an Executive Order to implement a new National Ocean Policy, which includes a mandatory Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning initiative to “zone” the oceans.

“It is imperative that we first understand the effects this policy will have on jobs as well as the vast coastal and inland economies,” said Flores in a statement. He added that he was “pleased to see the passage of my amendment preventing the funding for the National Ocean Policy, which had the potential to take funds away from existing congressionally authorized activities critical to the ocean and coastal economies.”

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA), who was credited by proponents of the Flores amendment with ensuring its passage, said, “Without knowing the potential jobs and economic ramifications of the policy, nor the amount of time, money and resources it will cost to implement, it is imperative that we halt funding so that these questions can be answered and proper Congressional oversight can be conducted.”

In a bipartisan vote, the Flores amendment was approved 246-174.

“These are two extremely critical issues for all of us who spend time on the water as these two issues are intended to get us off the water,” said Port St. Joe charter boat captain Tom Adams. “We are all very happy.”

Adams pointed to two rallies in Washington, D.C., one in 2010 and the other earlier this year, that he said helped raise awareness among lawmakers regarding the National Oceans Policy and its impact on recreational and commercial fishermen.

The rally this year was especially noteworthy in that it demonstrated unity across the various segments of the fishing community.

In particular, the “catch share” program, seen by many fishermen as a way to allocate fishing rights to a steadily more select spectrum of interests, was a target.

Those programs, combined with shorter fishing seasons and lower bag limits are perceived as robbing the rights from recreational and commercial fishermen.

“These catch shares policies are not good for the charter fisherman, most commercial fishermen and definitely not for all the recreational fisherman,” Adams said. “Everyone I talk to can’t understand why they can only fish for a few days for red snapper and grouper.

“In our opinion, if these policies are not stopped things are going to get worse, a lot worse, and our fisheries will be owned by a select few.”

The National Charterboat Association, whose president is Capt. Bob Zales, II out of Panama City, has been at the forefront since the EO was signed in July 2010.

The NACO through the National Ocean Policy Coalition has worked with other industry representatives to inform Congress of the negative impacts associated with this EO. Zales has attended hearings and provided testimony to the House Resource Committee and the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs, which Southerland sits on.

“This is great news and proves that working with other diverse groups we can achieve our goals of maintaining open access to our waterways and oceans,” Zales said of the House amendments passed last week. “I feel the National Fishermen Rally is gaining more momentum because legislators are listening to fishermen, boaters, and other affected industries and they are taking actions that will allow continued access to fisheries, waterways, and oceans.”

From: The Star

The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) also weighed in on last week’s actions in the House, calling the approval of the amendments “significant.”

“The vote to halt funding on efforts which would deny Americans access to our coastal waters and privatize our marine fish stocks is not partisan in nature,” said RFA executive director Jim Donofrio. “This is not about Democrats or Republicans it’s about protecting the rights and heritage of our coastal residents.”