As the lead witness for the Gulf region, Gulf Seafood Institute’s David Krebstestified before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources on the reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Act. Photo: House of Representatives
by Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
The Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI), a four-month old non-profit organization comprised of Gulf seafood leaders from all five Gulf States, had a busy week of testifying before two influential governmental organizations responsible for governing the Gulf of Mexico, and the sustainable seafood it provides.
Krebs waits to testify with the second group of industry leaders. Photo: Margaret Henderson/GSI
In Washington D.C., David Krebs, GSI board member from Florida and president of Ariel Seafoods, testified before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources on the reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Act.
As the lead witness for the Gulf region, Krebs joined Samuel D. Rauch III, the deputy assistant administrator at the National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Richard B. Robins, Jr., chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Rick E. Marks of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh, PC; Vito Giacalone, the policy director at Northeast Seafood Coalition; Mark Fina, Ph.D, J.D., the senior policy analyst at United States Seafood; George J. Geiger, the owner and operator of Chances Are Fishing Charters; Jeff Deem of Recreational Fishing Alliance; and Ellen K. Pikitch, Ph.D, professor and executive director for the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University.
The House committee heard testimony from various groups on the ‘‘Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act’’; the House’s proposal on updating laws governing fisheries management in the United States. Its aim is to provide flexibility for fishery managers and stability for fishermen, while still maintaining key sustainability programs.
Addressing a Packed Room
Speaking to a packed hearing room, Krebs presentation maintained that, in general, the Magnuson Stevens Act is working. In his five-minute testimony, he covered GSI’s platform for the reauthorization, which includes:
Krebs’ testimony was well received by the House Resources committee, and according to the Florida fisherman “It was a very good showing for GSI in front of an influential House committee.” Photo: Margaret Henderson/GSI
- Providing Flexibility in Rebuilding Timelines to better account for the biological needs of fisheries
- Increasing Flexibility in establishing Annual Catch Limits, taking into consideration the availability of accurate and timely data
- Identifying New Funding Sources for data collection, including monies collected from marine enforcement actions
- Increasing Responsiveness of Science and Statistical Committees
- Increasing Accountability and Ensuring Balance on the Regional Fishery Management Councils
Krebs touched on the controversial issue of red snapper management highlighting the successes of the current management program on the commercial side, insisting that any new program to manage recreationally caught red snapper not diminish the commercial fishermen and consumers’ access to their share of this resource. Krebs also provided written remarks for the committee that covered the broad-based issues in greater depth.
The GSI board member fielded a line of questioning from Florida Rep. Steve Southerland regarding catch shares. He answered that there was “the need for more accountability on the Gulf Council.”
Krebs’ testimony was well received by the House Resources committee, and according to the Florida fisherman “It was a very good showing for GSI in front of an influential House committee.”
Walking the Hill
“We got very good feedback in a visit to Sen. Bill Nelson’s office,” said Krebs about a GSI visit to the offices of his home state legislators on the other side of the Hill. Photo: Margaret Henderson/GSI
Following his testimony, Krebs visited the Gulf committee member offices of Rep. Southerland, Rep. Bradley Byrne of Alabama and Rep Vance McAllister of Louisiana, bringing them up to speed on GSI’s Magnuson Stevens Act (MSA) platform.
“We got very good feedback in a visit to Sen. Bill Nelson’s office,” said Krebs about a GSI visit to the offices of his home state legislators on the other side of the Hill. “I spent a lot of time with Sen. Marco Rubio’s Oceans Subcommittee staffer. While the House is moving on MSA, the Senate has yet to issue a companion bill but we expect it in the next few months.”
Krebs closed out his long day on the hill with an hour-long meeting with Florida Rep. Jeff Miller’s staff who has been very active on the red snapper issue. “They seem open to suggestions on how to increase accountability on the recreational side,” Krebs said.
“GSI’s definitely has our work cut out for us,” he said about his day on the hill. “The formation of a group like GSI is particularly timely and the folks on Capitol Hill are very excited to have us banding together under this umbrella.”
Members of the Gulf Seafood Institute will be in Washington, D.C. the week of February 16th for their first annual “Walk the Hill” event. They will be meeting with legislators from both sides of the isle that are influential in the governance of the Gulf of Mexico and its seafood.
Gulf Council Meeting
As one GSI board member finished his testimony in D.C., another prepared for his in Houston.
GSI board member Jim Gossen addressed the Gulf Council, one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
GSI board member Jim Gossen, chairman of Sysco Louisiana Seafood, introduced the Gulf Seafood Institute to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council during their meeting held in Houston, TX.
The Gulf Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans designed to manage fishery resources from where state waters end, out to the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.
Addressing the Council, Gossen told them “If you haven’t heard of us yet, you will in the near future. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
Addressing the Council, Gossen told them “If you haven’t heard of us yet, you will in the near future. We were formed in 2013 as a Gulf wide non-profit, with areas of emphasis that include – ADVOCACY, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.”
Gossen reiterated GSI’s position on the controversial Red Snapper Amendment 28 that the council was considering. He also covered the organizations position on Council Amendment 39, covering regional management, and Amendment 40, covering sector separation.
Also, during his three-minute presentation, he covered the organizations recent testimony on the Hill on the Magnuson Stevens Act.
“GSI will continue to be deeply involved with the discussion on new legislation that will reshape Magnuson-Stevens,” he said. “The Gulf Council’s current position is aligned to many of our organizations views, and we encourage that continued consistency.
Our organization will continue to be extremely active in promoting the discussion on that very important issue that has significant impact on our mutual fishing futures.”
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