Issue 3, March 2018

Fisheries Controversy at the Capitol

The Magnuson-Stevens Act of 1976 (MSA) was established primarily to ensure fisheries sustainability, but also to generate benefits such as increased fishing opportunities and revenue for commercial and recreational sectors. The MSA has guided federal fisheries management for decades and is credited for rebuilding many fish stocks since 2000. The MSA was reauthorized in 1996 and 2006, and requirements for catch limits, catch shares, and rebuilding timelines were updated. Currently, two bills introduced in 2017 have prompted discussions about a third reauthorization, and heated debates have ensued between stakeholder groups, especially on the Gulf Coast where red snapper management remains controversial.

Bill 1: “Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act”

House of Representatives (HR) 200
- Sponsored by Alaska representative Don Young
- Introduced January 23, 2017
- Approved by the United States House Committee on Natural Resources on December 13, 2017
- House and Senate have yet to act

Bill 2: “Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017”

HR 2023
- Sponsored by Louisiana representative Garret Graves
- Introduced April 6, 2017
Senate (S) 1520
- Sponsored by Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker
- Introduced July 10, 2017

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