Jones Amendment to Block Spending on Catch Shares Passes House of Representatives

Amendment 548 to H.R. 1 sponsored by Walter Jones (R-North Carolina) and cosponsored by Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) and Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) passed the United States House of Representatives on a recorded vote of 259-159 at 1:43 a.m. on Saturday, February 19.

The amendment would prevent funds from being expended by NOAA to enact new limited access fishing programs. If H.R. 1 is passed by the Senate and signed into law, it would prevent spending on catch shares programs. Fifty-one Democrats joined 208 Republicans voting in favor of the Amendment.

Amendment 548 to H.R. 1 would ensure that no funds made available in the continuing resolution could be used to develop or approve new limited access privilege programs for any fishery under the jurisdiction of the South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, New England or Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils. This would prevent further spending on catch share programs, the fisheries policy used by NOAA under adminstrator Jane Lubchenco's leadership. The catch shares policy has faced widespread opposition by east coast fishermen.

The amendment does not affect fishing programs on the West Coast or Alaska. The floor debate on the amendment can be viewed here:
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/HouseSession4012/start/50252/stop/50773

Source:Saving Seafoods