Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 110th Congress Page: 2 of 33
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Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal
Legislation in the 110th Congress
Summary
Fish and marine mammals are important resources in open ocean and nearshore
coastal areas; many federal laws and regulations guide their management.
Commercial and sport fishing are jointly managed by the federal government
and individual states. States generally have jurisdiction within 3 miles of the coast.
Beyond state jurisdiction and out to 200 miles, the federal government manages
fisheries under the MSFCMA through eight regional fishery management councils.
Beyond 200 miles, the United States participates in international agreements relating
to specific areas or species. The 110th Congress has enacted P.L. 110-28, providing
$60.4 million for Pacific salmon emergency disaster assistance as well as $110
million for hurricane recovery assistance to the Gulf of Mexico shrimp and fishing
industries, P.L. 110-161 provided $13.395 million for alleviating economic impacts
on the Massachusetts groundfish fishery, and provisions in P.L. 110-246 transferred
$170 million to NMFS for distribution to commercial and recreational members of
the fishing communities affected by the salmon fishery failure in California, Oregon,
and Washington. Provisions in P.L. 110-114 increased the authorization for research
on Columbia and Snake River salmon survival, including methods to reduce avian
predation on juvenile salmon; coordinated management of two aquatic nuisance
species dispersal barriers on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and authorized an
Upper Mississippi River dispersal barrier project; authorized a feasibility study of a
dispersal barrier on the Lake Champlain Canal; modified oyster restoration programs
in Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay, and Delaware Bay; and modified Great
Lakes fisheries restoration, allowing nonfederal participants to provide as much as
100% of their nonfederal share through in-kind contributions. P.L. 110-181 directed
the Secretary of Transportation to review ship disposal practices, including use of
disposed vessels as artificial reefs. P.L. 110-243 directed the United States to initiate
international discussions to negotiate an agreement for managing fish stocks in the
Arctic Ocean.
Aquaculture - the farming of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic animals and
plants in a controlled environment - is expanding rapidly abroad, with more modest
advances in the United States. In the United States, important species cultured
include catfish, salmon, shellfish, and trout. In the 110th Congress, H.R. 2010 and S.
1609 have been introduced to promote the development of aquaculture in offshore
federal waters. The 110th Congress enacted P.L. 110-85, authorizing the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) to enhance inspection of aquaculture and seafood
products and requiring FDA to report on environmental risks associated with
genetically engineered seafood products, and P.L. 110-246, reauthorizing the
National Aquaculture Act and enhancing various programs within the Department
of Aquaculture that support aquaculture.
Marine mammals are protected under the MMPA. With few exemptions, the
MMPA prohibits harm or harassment ("take") of marine mammals, unless restrictive
permits are obtained. It addresses specific situations of concern, such as dolphin
mortality, primarily associated with the eastern tropical Pacific tuna fishery.
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Buck, Eugene H. Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Legislation in the 110th Congress, report, October 8, 2008; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc817780/m1/2/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.