Legislation that would implement U.S. participation in two international fishery treaties that the U.S. helped negotiate has been approved by a voice vote in the House and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
H.R. 4576 covers the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean and the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean, said Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, a co-sponsor.
Young said that H.R. 4576 “gives the United States a critical seat at the table to lead the many conversations and negotiations regarding fisheries management decisions upon the high seas, while also ensuring American fishermen have much needed access to shared international waters.”
Young introduced H.R. 3269, the North Pacific Fisheries convention Implementation Act, on July 28, 2015. That legislation was folded into H.R. 4576, introduced by Rep. Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, At-Large in February.
Young said H.R. 4576 also would make positive changes to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act that would allow regional fishery councils and U.S. territories to participate in the Convention in order to protect domestic fishing fleets from any adverse effects from the treaties.
The bill would change existing law to help the domestic Pacific tuna fishing industry compete on a level playing field against foreign fleets, Young said.
According to the bill-tracking website www.govtrack.us, the bill has a 21 percent change of passage, based on the fact that only about 21 percent of bills that made it past committee in 2013-2015 were enacted.
