Seafood Harvesters Praise Senate for Passing Port State Measures Agreement Implementing Legislation

Seafood Harvesters Praise Senate for Passing Port State Measures Agreement Implementing LegislationFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:October 23, 2015WASHINGTON, D.C. - Seafood Harvesters of America issued the following statement on the passage of H.R. 774, the “Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015” in the United States Senate:We are pleased to see the US Senate unanimously pass this important legislation following its passage in the US House of Representatives this summer. We thank our leaders in Washington for sending the clear message that the United States is committed to leveling the playing field for our domestic commercial fishermen competing in domestic and international fishing markets. We especially thank Representatives Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) and Don Young (R-AK) and Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) for their bipartisan leadership. Passing implementing legislation for the Port State Measures Agreement and expanding the reach of the High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Moratorium Protection Act are important steps towards protecting our domestic commercial fisheries, ensuring that nations are able to effectively police their ports, and providing federal agencies with the tools and authorities they need to better enforce fishing laws. Strengthening the enforcement power of international fishery agreements already in existence is vital to protecting lawful fishing practices. The passage of today’s legislation signals to the rest of the world that our nation is determined to keep illegally caught fish and seafood out of US markets. We commend the Senate’s action on this common sense bill and urge the President to sign this bill expeditiously.###Seafood Harvesters of America (“Harvesters”) is an umbrella association representing 17 commercial fishing organizations from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico north to New England. For more information, please visit seafoodharvesters.org or contact Executive Director Brett Veerhusen at (314) 276-1062.