Earthjustice: “Throw Back” Dangerous Anti-Fisheries Bill

Legislation would gut federal protections that have rebuilt 44 overfished stocks since 2000

Contacts

Phil LaRue, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500

Martin Hayden, Earthjustice Vice President for Policy and Legislation, released the following statement in opposition to H.R. 200, a bill to gut federal fisheries protections under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA):

“Recovering depleted fisheries under H.R. 200 would be like fishing for sardines with a whale-sized hole in the net. This bill would reverse decades of bipartisan progress towards preventing overfishing and rebuilding fish populations, harming the health of our marine ecosystems and the coastal communities who depend on them. 

“The House should throw this bad bill back before it’s too late for the health of our oceans and the survival of our fish populations.”

Nearly 1,000 fishermen, business leaders, scientists, and organizations fighting for the health of our oceans have called on House lawmakers to reject H.R. 200. The bill would undermine the core pillars of MSA that have made the law successful, rebuilding 44 once overfished commercially and recreationally valuable stocks since 2000.

Ocean net destruction
Oceans species are experiencing large-scale habitat loss caused by humans and climate change. (Aqua Images / Shutterstock)

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Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.