Healthy Oceans News

Environment America delivered 40,000 public comments from citizens across the country today to the National Marine Fisheries Service headquarters in Silver Spring, MD.  All told, 150,000 comments were filed nationally, opposing rules that weaken ocean protections by undermining strong environmental reviews.  Environment groups in sixteen coastal states, including Environment Washington, Environment Oregon, Environment California, Environment Texas, Environment Florida, Environment Georgia, Environment North Carolina, Environment Virginia, Environment Maryland, Environment New Jersey, Environment Connecticut, Environment Rhode Island, Environment Massachusetts, Environment New Hampshire and Environment Maine, all joined in condemning this latest move to weaken ecosystem protections.

Michael Gravitz, Oceans Advocate for Environment America said, “By undermining fair environmental reviews of government decisions that affect marine fish and wildlife, the Bush administration is removing the keystone that protects ocean ecosystems and sustainable fishing from destructive practices.”  He explained, “For decades, these environmental reviews have been the backstop that has saved whales and seals, sea turtles, sea birds, fish and marine habitats from destructive overfishing and harmful fishing practices. Not only do these environmental reviews protect ecosystems, but by making fishing sustainable now and in the future, they also help fishermen.” 

The new environmental rules proposed by the administration would severely limit the ability of the public to participate in key decisions about fishing. The proposed rules would also hand more responsibility to the same regional fishery management councils that have for many years turned a blind eye to destructive overfishing. The current environmental review process, mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act, has resulted in some of the most important environmental improvements in fisheries management in the last two decades. Hundreds of thousands of square miles off the Aleutian Islands have been protected from destructive bottom trawling; ground fish populations off the West Coast are being rebuilt faster and smarter; and Western Pacific sea turtles and sea birds are being protected today from drowning at the end of long line hooks -- all because of the National Environmental Policy Act.

 “If President Bush wants a real blue legacy, he ought to start right here and use these environmental reviews to protect the oceans and wildlife. We want the President and National Marine Fisheries Service to listen to more than 150,000 voices and start over again on these rules. We need environmental review rules that help keep the oceans healthy and help fishermen and their communities achieve sustainable fishing,” Gravitz concluded.