SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, OCEANS AND INSULAR AFFAIRS
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Thursday, March 22, 2012
9:30 a.m.

• Press Release - Recreational, Commercial Fisherman Fear President’s Ocean Zoning Plans Will Block Access, Create Conflict in Fishery Management (3/22/2012)
• Key Issue - President Obama's National Ocean Policy
• Official Hearing Transcript

OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:

• "Empty Hooks: The National Ocean Policy is the Latest Threat to Access for Recreational and Commercial Fishermen."

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable John Fleming
Chairman

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Captain Robert F. Zales, II
President
National Association of Charterboat Operators
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Gary Zurn
Senior Vice President Marketing
Big Rock Sports, LLC
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Terry Gibson
Principle
North Swell Media, LLC
(Truth in Testimony Form)

George J. Mannina, Jr.
Partner
Nossaman, LLC
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Justin LeBlanc
Federal Representative
United Catcher Boats
(Truth in Testimony Form)

BACKGROUND:

Established by Executive Order 13547, the President's National Ocean Policy creates a new, top-down bureaucracy that could restrict access for the fishing industry, increase industry overregulation and create conflicts in fishery management. Access for recreational and commercial fisheries is already being limited. The National Ocean Policy will further restrict access by calling for closed areas or limiting activities. The absence of stakeholder involvement in the development of the National Ocean Policy and subsequent Implementation Plan has created uproar throughout the fishing industry. Members will hear from representatives of the charter, commercial and recreational fishing industries on the implications of President Obama’s National Ocean Policy.