By Richard Gaines
U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe and Congressman Barney Frank yesterday released a letter asking for the National Academy of Sciences to weigh in on the "economic and ecological consequences" of committing to the full recovery of all fish stocks at the same deadline as required by federal law.
"We would like to see an independent, scientific analysis of the Magnuson-Stevens Act's 10-year rebuilding timeline mandate to determine whether it is appropriate and attainable standard," Snow and Frank wrote to Jane Lubchenco, who heads the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The letter from Maine Republican and Massachusetts Democrat was dated Tuesday.
The letter was distributed to the media yesterday — a week before recreational and commercial fishermen from three coasts are planning to meet on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., to lobby to convince Congress to clarify Magnuson language that requires the end of "overfishing" for all stocks by a 10-year deadline.
Between 3,000 and 5,000 are expected to the "United We Fish" demonstration.
Versions of the "Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act" were filed in the House by Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., and in the Senate by Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Nearly two dozen co-sponsors have signed on.
Before and after the three-hour rally, which begins at noon, groups have planned meetings with their representatives and senators to build support for the adjustment to Magnuson.
Frank's and Snowe's request for Lubchenco to commission the National Academy of Science's National Research Council to study the hard deadline for the recovery of the stocks focuses on a core question: "Is it feasible to rebuild all of our nation's fish stocks simultaneously, or will stock rebuilding rates reflect more complex changes in population dynamics than otherwise envisioned by managers?"
Such a study would take 18 months, Snowe and Frank said in their letter.
As Magnuson was revised in 1996 and 2006 and interpreted by the National Marine Fisheries Service, severe cuts in catch allowances were made to bring the stocks to optimal status simultaneously at 2014 or before in some cases — even stocks whose recoveries were progressing.
Snowe and Frank have been leaders of the fishing industry and have engaged Lubchenco in pointed dialog since she was appointed by President Obama to head NOAA and preside over the fisheries.
Snowe questioned Lubchenco at her confirmation hearing about the "dysfunctional" relationship between the federal fisheries bureaucracy and the industry, while Frank met with Lubchenco last fall and, since then, has expressed disappointment in her response to a range of issues that was the subject matter of the meeting.
Lubchenco's office did not respond yesterday to a request for a response to the letter.
"Fisheries are an economic engine for our coastal communities, and the Magnuson-Stevens Act includes a commitment to achieve optimum yield from our fisheries while minimizing adverse economic impact," Snowe said in a release that accompanied the letter. "Congressman Frank and I are asking NOAA to fund this study to determine whether the 10-year rebuilding timeline best meets these mandates."
"The rigid and arbitrary 10-year rebuilding timeline was one of my major objections to the Magnuson-Stevens Act," Frank added in the same prepared statement, "and I believe the time has come for it to be re-evaluated."
Richard Gaines can be reached at 978-1283-7000, x3464, or via e-mail at rgaines@gloucestertimes.com.
