Rep. Huffman Holds First Listening Sessions in Nationwide Tour

October 10, 2019

San Rafael, CA—This week, Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Chair of the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee, completed the second stop on his nationwide listening tour on federal fisheries management designed to engage diverse perspectives, interests, and needs of individuals who have a stake in the management of federal ocean and fisheries resources.

During the listening sessions, Representative Huffman heard from stakeholders and members of the public, who gave feedback on the current state of fisheries management under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and what they hope to see in future federal fisheries policy.

“These listening sessions have already proven to be a valuable source of information and productive way for me to hear from a wide range of stakeholders. So far I’ve heard that the Magnuson Stevens Act is working and has done a great deal to rebuild American fisheries. However, in California I also heard that climate change impacts, a lack of effective protections for important watersheds and habitats, increasing costs, insufficient funding for NOAA science and disaster relief, and a severe shortage of infrastructure at working waterfronts are some of the pressing challenges facing the fishing industry and coastal communities. These are some of the topics I’ll explore in my efforts to fine-tune the MSA, and I am sure my future stops on this tour will be just as fruitful. I look forward to hearing more from stakeholders in other regions as I continue this listening tour,” said Representative Huffman.

Rep. Huffman’s goal for this listening tour is to assess whether improvements to the Magnuson-Stevens Act are needed and if so, what they should be. More information and the full press release for this tour can be found on our website here.

 

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (also referred to as the Magnuson-Stevens Act or MSA) is the primary law governing the management and conservation of commercial fisheries in federal waters. The MSA was last reauthorized and extensively amended in 2006 (P.L. 109-479). Although the authorization of appropriations expired at the end of Fiscal Year 2013, the law’s requirements remain in effect and Congress has continued to appropriate funds to administer the act.

 

Videos from the listening sessions can be accessed through Representative Huffman’s Facebook page here.

 

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