On January 12, President Bush
signed the easy-to-say Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act into law. The measure, first and foremost, strengthens
current law by requiring that scientists, not politicians, dictate how many fish can be caught per year. What a novel idea. The new
bill will also:
- Authorize the use of market-based limited access privilege programs;
- Require establishment of a regionally-based registry for recreational fishermen;
- Strengthen fisheries enforcement;
- Authorize the Secretary to provide assistance to the Regional Fishery Management Councils for development of regional ecosystem pilot programs; and
- Establish Community Based Restoration Programs that utilize public-private partnerships to restore fishery and coastal habitat.
In Bush's
own words, "
The act sets a firm deadline to end overfishing in America; contributes to replenishing America's fish stocks; strengthens enforcement of America's fishing laws; and implements international agreements on fishery management and the protection of polar bears." Wow, polar bears, too. Sounds cool. Let's see how the Administration works with the law in the future.
1. Nothing against the claimed goals of the law per se, but which scientists? Making them in control of anything takes NO politics out of the process-- reference any national research lab. All it does is take it out of the hands of someone who was elected and put it in the hands of someone who was not. The more we get of this, the less control we have over every aspect of our lives.
What redress are you allowed under this law if you disagree with something they do?
Posted at 6:12PM on Jan 17th 2007 by Mr Textbooks