West Coast Dungeness Crab Management Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues
to support H.R. 2168, the West Coast Dungeness Crab Management Act.
This bipartisan bill is an important solution for residents of coastal
communities in southwest Washington.

The successful, two-decades-old tri-state Dungeness crab management
agreement will expire September 30 of 2016. This bill simply makes
permanent the management authority between Washington, Oregon, and
California. This management authority has worked.

For the last 20 years, these States have overseen one of the most
valuable fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. In 2014, fishermen
delivered 53 million pounds of crab, totaling $170 million. This
economic activity helped support the 61,000 jobs relating to the
seafood industry in Washington State alone.

How has it maintained this success? The fishery has been managed in a
sustainable way. And, importantly, it doesn't cost taxpayers a dime.

However, should this authority expire, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, says its management of the fishery
will cost taxpayers over $1.15 million each year.

So, simply put, this bill maintains local control on the West Coast
and ensures sustainability of the Dungeness crab fishery, and it saves
taxpayer dollars.

I want to thank Chairman Bishop and the House Natural Resource staff
for bringing this bill to the floor. It is common sense.
I urge the House to vote ``yes'' on this bill to ensure a bright,
sustainable economic future for coastal crab-dependent communities like
Ilwaco, Washington, and many others on the West Coast.

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