Lawmakers propose sweeping measures to help an unforeseen victim of overfishing: 'This bill introduces stronger protections for seabirds'

This is great news because not only will it provide added protection for marine wildlife, but it will also help protect the coastal communities that rely on the ocean.

In July, lawmakers introduced the Sustaining America's Fisheries for the Future Act of 2024, which will help provide protection not only to fish but to the many animals that rely on them, including seabirds.

As reported by Audubon, the act was introduced by U.S. Reps. Jared Huffman, Ed Case, Mary Peltola, and James Moylan. The bill reauthorizes the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, a primary law that governs marine fisheries management in federal waters, and adds new provisions into the bill to account for the rising global temperature, to provide better protections for coastal areas, and to keep marine wildlife from becoming entangled in fishing gear. 

Most importantly, the bill takes into consideration the needs of marine wildlife when deciding the quotas for catching fish. This has gone further than previous bills because it includes smaller species of fish, known as forage fish, which are an important food source for many marine animals, including seabirds, dolphins, whales, and larger fish. 

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By:  Lindy Whitehouse
Source: The Cool Down

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