Protecting Our Oceans

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Capitol Hill Ocean Week to highlight the critical role our oceans play in our lives, our economy, and for so many marine species.

In 2012, the Pacific Region's seafood industry generated $7.5 billion in sales for Washington state while seafood processors and dealers accounted for 16,000 jobs.

The Magnuson Stevens Act, the law which governs sound stewardship and management of our fisheries is due for reauthorization. Unfortunately, the reauthorization bill moving through the House would take us backwards at a critical time.

The bill would roll back a number of conservation provisions at the expense of numerous efforts to increase fish populations. In fact, the bill would allow overfishing on already depleted populations. In my district, a commercial fishery disaster declaration was made for the Fraser River sockeye salmon fishery this year. Our tribes have been good stewards of the fishery, but due to a changing climate beyond their control, fish populations are decreasing.

This bill does not address our changing climate, such as the increasing acidification of our oceans. I urge my colleagues to instead pursue policies that will preserve our oceans for generations to come.

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