 WASHINGTON, DC - While presiding over this week’s Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Resource Subcommittee hearing, Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC) invited one of his constituents, Captain Mark Brown, to testify in the proceedings.
Captain Brown, a recreational fisherman from Charleston, South Carolina, joins Congressman Brown in his concern that far-reaching provisions, added to The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) in 2006, are causing serious issues for fishermen and fishing communities.
“Today I plan on referencing the Snapper/Grouper Fishery which has come under so much scrutiny over the last 18 - 24 months due to the re-authorization of the MSA in 2006 which now requires that fisheries managers implement measures to end all overfishing in the nation within a very inflexible 12 month deadline,” said Captain Brown.
“Because this timeline is so aggressive,” Captain Brown continued, “Regulators are essentially held hostage, forced to conform to these laws, and execute decisions in an accelerated manner, even though these decisions are often based on inadequate scientific data or data that may not have been properly examined and/or reviewed.”
Congressman Brown additionally commented that these regulations not only directly affect the local fishermen of the area, but they are greatly impacting the tourism industry of the First District as well.
“As the representative of 75 percent of the coastline of South Carolina, both recreational and commercial fishing are important economic engines for my district and our state,” said Congressman Brown. “When opportunities for fishing are limited or closed altogether, it does not just affect the charter boats and the bait shops. When people come to South Carolina to fish they stay in our fine, luxurious hotels and they eat at our world-class restaurants.”
“In short,” Congressman Brown summarized, “When people come to South Carolina for a weekend fishing trip, they do much more than fish. And when they cancel their trip because the red snapper fishery is closed, the closure affects many more people than just the charter boat operator.”
Both Captain Brown and Congressman Brown stand in support of legislation that allows fisheries councils much needed time to evaluate all of the best available science when facing any potential closures of fisheries that are deemed as being overfished.
“It is imperative to the future of our nation’s fisheries that Congress adopts policies that strive to promote sound science to the fisheries management process as their primary driver, and not settle for legislation which creates emphasis on arbitrary deadlines based on a political agenda,” said Captain Brown.
As a champion for both recreational and commercial fishermen, Congressman Brown vows to continue his efforts to protect the fishing industry as a whole and will specifically strive to enact legislation that will defend the hardworking South Carolina fishermen and shrimpers who earn their living on the water and along the coast.
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