Number: 1990-02
WHEREAS, Congress will continue its work to reauthorize the Magnuson Act to include, for the first time ever, an amendment authorizing management and protection of tuna stocks; and
WHEREAS, continued implementation and defense of turtle excluder device (TED) regulations to protect endangered sea turtles from drowning IN shrimp nets is necessary; and
WHEREAS, there will be increased efforts by the National Wildlife Federation to reduce “by catch discard”, a wanton waste of valuable marine nontarget shellfish and finfish taken incidental to commercial fishing operations, that are thrown overboard dead and dying, and that threatens the health of marine ecosystems and reduces fisheries stocks available to recreational and commercial fishermen; and
WHEREAS, Congress will continue efforts to restore anadromous fisheries in the Sacramento River Basin of California; and
WHEREAS, the anadromous fisheries of the San Joaquin River system are an integral part of the Sacramento River and delta systems;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 15-18, 1990, in Denver, Colorado, calls upon Congress to reauthorize a strong Magnuson Act that includes provisions for the conservation of tuna stocks; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges the National Marine Fisheries Service to steadfastly uphold its TEDs regulations and for Congress to reject efforts to weaken or eliminate sea turtle protection provided by TEDs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Marine Fisheries Service, working in close cooperation with conservation organizations, recreational fishermen, commercial fishermen and others, aggressively monitor, research and develop ways to reduce by catch discard; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls upon Congress to enact legislation to enhance anadromous fisheries restoration efforts IN the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins of California.