Seafood Harvesters of America Statement on President Biden’s Executive Order to Tackle Climate Change

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 27, 2021

Media Contacts: Blake Androff, (202) 234-1224

                            Leigh Habegger, (703) 794-5114

WASHINGTON – Seafood Harvesters of America, the largest national association of commercial fishermen committed to sustainable seafood, released the following statements after President Biden released his latest executive order addressing climate change, including the commitment of this Administration to conserve at least 30 percent of our lands and oceans by 2030.

“We applaud President Biden for recognizing the critical need for meaningful stakeholder engagement in fulfilling his campaign promise to conserve 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030. Explicitly naming fishermen as a stakeholder group clearly acknowledges our role in ensuring healthy oceans systems and providing the lowest carbon footprint protein to the American people.

“We hope that this Administration listens to the commercial fishing industry in discussions of marine protections because we are also committed to healthy oceans. We recently saw the successful expansion of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary thanks to the inclusive stakeholder process that allowed for commercial fishermen to have a seat at the table. Such a process is the only way to produce the win-win-wins for ‘30x30’ that are being touted by some in the environmental community. Without genuine, meaningful participation from the commercial fishing industry, we will continue to face pendulum swings of opening and closing areas like we are seeing with the Northeast Seamounts and Canyons Monument.

“The Magnuson-Stevens Act, our nation’s overarching federal fisheries law, mandates that our fisheries remain sustainable and we pride ourselves on the progress we’ve achieved since its passage in 1976. The U.S. fishery management system is lauded as the global gold standard and we take our responsibility as stewards of our fisheries resources seriously.

“Not only are we on the front lines of climate change, we understand the need for science-based habitat protections. We must have healthy oceans to ensure food security for the American people in the face of climate change and to ensure that our coastal communities remain vibrant and thriving.

“To deny commercial fishermen the chance to work meaningfully with the Administration, CEQ, and Secretaries of Interior and Commerce on this initiative would be short-sighted and only serve to continue the bitter fights of the past. We look forward to working with the Administration, being partners in conservation, and developing a strong, stakeholder-driven process.” – Leigh Habegger, Executive Director

“As the U.S. prepares to be a leader on next steps in tackling climate change, we must embrace our leadership responsibility seriously and remain grounded in sound science. Having experienced the collapse of our fisheries in past decades due to political refusals to listen to the guiding principles of science, I know all too well that politics is a poor choice as a proxy for science in any situation that is of national concern.

“Conserving 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030 is a big deal and we must get it right if it is to be effective. If this initiative is guided by no more than simply what feels good or sounds catchy, we will not get it right. Much like the Magnuson-Stevens Act, so too must this initiative be rooted in science if it is to be a global gold standard. ‘30x30’ must be science-based, transparent, and stakeholder-driven, while having a watchful eye for fairness, equity, and societal betterment. Our oceans are changing rapidly and we must confront that head on. However, we must allow for science to guide us, not politics.

“We very much look forward to working with the Administration on developing a science-based, stakeholder-driven process for this initiative.” – Christopher Brown, President, Seafood Harvesters of America and 2016 White House Champion of Change for Sustainable Fisheries

You can view a PDF of the statement here.