The Sun News- May 17, 2011
Officials backing fishermen; Lawmakers fighting overfishing legislation
Local and state lawmakers are trying to spur their federal counterparts to action on fishing regulation changes.
By Gina Vasselli
Resolutions in support of the passage of the Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act, which is in committee in the U.S. House and Senate, have made their way to local government agendas and have garnered the support of almost 20 South Carolina House members.
The Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act would give more leeway to the current 10-year rebuilding period for overfished areas. The current legislation, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, sets that time limit and other restrictions to prevent overfishing.
But S.C. Rep. Kevin Ryan, R-Pawleys Island and the sponsor of the S.C. House resolution, said that timetable is hurting local fishermen.
“What it says is we have to do this right now, with the research we have and that’s why we’re seeing the drastic changes,” Ryan said, specifically mentioning the restrictions on Black Sea Bass and Red Snapper fishing.
Ryan said he heard from constituents “since day one” about this issue, mainly from fishermen who told him the catch limits are “really hurting recreational and especially commercial fishing.”
Keith Logan, a charter fishing captain and the executive director of the Grand Strand Fishing Alliance, said charter fishermen “make a living by taking people on fishing tours … we have to be able to take them out fishing.”
Ryan said in addition to giving fisheries more time to rebuild, his resolution asks the Department of Commerce to make funding for fisheries’ data a priority for the South Atlantic Region.
“If we’re using data that’s eight years old to make decisions, that’s what’s leading to the drastic measures,” Ryan said. "The fisheries’ council are having to make their decisions based on the data the National Ma