Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has introduced legislation, including key initiatives advanced by the Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI), laying groundwork for Gulf seafood community priorities in the upcoming reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Photo: Marco Rubio Facebook
by Ed Lallo/ Gulf Seafood News Editor
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has introduced legislation, including key initiatives advanced by the Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI), laying groundwork for Gulf seafood community priorities in the upcoming reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA). As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard, Senator Rubio’s bill, the Florida Fisheries Improvement Act, outlines priorities improving fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic regions.
Over the past year, GSI has worked closely with the Senator and his legislative staff to ensure this bill reflects the mixed nature of fishery stakeholders in the Gulf are afforded the opportunity to be nominated to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
The new proposed legislation is the result of multiple hearings, meetings, and conversations the Senator held with stakeholders in Florida and across the country.
“Florida’s fisheries deeply impact the economic well-being of our state, as well as many Floridians whose way of life depends on them. But our fisheries are also a national treasure that feed Americans across the country, provide jobs across the food industry chain, and have become a favorite pastime for millions who provide direct and indirect benefits to our local, state, and national economies,” said Rubio. “This legislation ensures necessary improvements to management and data collection are made to fully optimize our fisheries and help advance Florida’s interests when it comes time to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act. However, I know there is more work to be done and I will continue to work to prioritize reauthorization of the MSA in the next Congress.”
GSI Worked Closely With Senator and Staff
Over the past year, GSI has worked closely with the Senator and his legislative staff to ensure this bill reflects the mixed nature of fishery stakeholders – commercial, charter and recreational fishermen – in the Gulf are afforded the opportunity to be nominated to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.
“The Gulf Seafood Institute is very pleased to see Senator Rubio taking a bold first step at introducing legislation to update the Magnuson Stevens Act. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
In addition, GSI has been strongly supportive of language in the the bill that increases resources for stock assessments and fisheries data, as well as a requirement by the Secretary of Commerce to make fishery disaster designations within 90 days of receiving information from a state.
“The Gulf Seafood Institute is very pleased to see Senator Rubio taking a bold first step at introducing legislation to update the Magnuson Stevens. The Gulf of Mexico seafood supply chain represented by GSI – fishermen, processors, retailers, restaurants and consumers – relies on a robust and workable MSA to protect access to our fisheries while also ensuring these resources are sustainable for the long term,” said Margaret Henderson, Executive Director of GSI. “We have worked hand-in-hand with Senator Rubio and his staff to make sure this bill provides a framework to address key challenges facing the Gulf seafood community, including balanced representation on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, effective management of the Gulf red snapper fishery, and more. We look forward to continuing our work with Senator Rubio on MSA over the remainder of this session and into the next.”
Senator Rubio’s legislation also includes:
- Provisions to increase the availability of funding for stock assessments, surveys, and data collection;
- Requires the Secretary to create a stock assessment plan to better prioritize stock assessments and submit a report to Congress on how to improve data collection from fishermen and other stakeholders;
- Provisions to increase transparency and public involvement in the scientific and statistical committee process;
- Authorizes Councils to consider alternative management measures such as extraction rates or fishing mortality targets in fishery management plans to better reflect the different priorities of each industry;
- A requirement for the Council to review the allocation process every five to eight years and directs the National Academy of Sciences to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator to assist in identifying what Councils should take into account when dealing with the allocation process;
- Exempts fisheries with a mean life cycle of 1.5 years or with spawning areas outside the United States, such as spiny lobster, from unnecessary rebuilding timelines.
“In light of ongoing efforts to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act, I have worked closely with the Gulf Seafood Institute to ensure that Florida’s commercial industry remains a thriving and robust industry,” said Senator Rubio (l), pictured during a tour of the Florida Everglades. Photo: Marco Rubio Facebook
“In light of ongoing efforts to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act, I have worked closely with the Gulf Seafood Institute to ensure that Florida’s commercial industry remains a thriving and robust industry,” said Senator Rubio. “By keeping me and my staff informed and providing valuable first-hand insight, Margaret Henderson and her team at GSI have stood side by side with us in our efforts to protect and strengthen this valuable industry and the many Floridians whose livelihoods depend on it. I appreciate this growing partnership, and look forward to continuing our work together until the challenges facing Florida’s fisheries are adequately addressed.”
Over the course of the past year, staff and members of GSI have met numerous times with staff on both sides of the Hill, as well as given testimony on Magnuson Stevens before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources.
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