Pallone Argues NOAA's Budget Priorities Fail Struggling Fishermen

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-6) Thursday questioned National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco and National Marine Fisheries Services Assistant Administrator Eric Swaab on the Administration’s misguided budget priorities. Pallone argued the budget unfairly punishes already struggling fishermen whose livelihoods depend on the fishing industry.

“You’re forcing fishermen to live and die by inferior research that could force them out of business,” said Pallone. “How does NOAA intend to ensure research continues to contribute to improving fisheries management when the budget cuts cooperative research by more than $6 million?”

Swabb responded that cooperative research was not being cut but rather moved into the catch shares account.

Also, in taking money away from cooperative research and without earmarks, the Administration effectively eliminated the Partnership for Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Science that uses science based research to reliably manage summer flounder and black sea bass fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic region. Pallone helped secure over two million dollars over the past two years for this program which has increased jobs, expanded the local tax base, provided increased recreational opportunities for the angling public and increase the availability of fresh seafood to the citizens of NY and NJ.

Pallone countered Swaab’s response by pointing out that the Administration’s own National Catch Share Policy does not advocate catch shares for individual private anglers which constituent a large part of his constituency and the New Jersey fishing community.

“My district has thousands of private anglers and attracts individual anglers from all over the nation. These anglers support local small businesses and drive the coastal economy of my home state. By placing cooperative research funds under catch shares you are putting pressure on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Fisheries Management Council and other regional management councils to adopt catch shares to get at the much needed funding that provides the information that keeps fisheries open.”