79-03-A5
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Fish[edit]
Transcript[edit]A few years ago there was quite a fuss about foreign fishing vessels taking fish in American waters--sometimes within sight of shore. Environmentalists expressed fear that over-fishing would deplete our offshore fish stocks. The result was the "Fisheries Conservation and Management Act of 1977", which established the 200-mile limit off our coasts. Naturally other nations, too, have established similar limits. Now many engaged in fishing, particularly on the East coast, supported this measure as a necessary protection. It is safe to say they no longer feel that way. There is no question that foreign overfishing has been stopped, but so has a lot of American fishing. On top of this we may lose to Canada one of our finest fishing grounds because the 200 miles is measured straight out from shore. Geography being what it is, there are irregularities along the coast and thus overlaps. One such overlap now being contested by Canada and the U.S. could take from us the northern half of the Georges Bank, which historically has been considered ours. But then, on our west coast, the Canadians have been shut off from their usual salmon fishing grounds. The greatest setback to our fishermen has been caused by the regulations which always follow a piece of well-intended legislation. For example, once the act was in effect, U.S. fishermen were given a quota of only 10 percent of the previous year's foreign catch. The regional commissions on the east and west coasts set their quotas based on recommendations provided by government scientists. These scientists are supposed to be able to count the fish in the sea. Take one region for example--the coast from Maine to South Carolina. With only two boats, 12 scientists are supposed to take a fish census that will determine how many fish the industry can take from the waters off that stretch of coastline. As one executive of a fisherman marketing association says, "The regional commission itself admits there is no biological justification for their quota levels." But when quotas are reached, the Department of Commerce simply closes the fisheries. It is admitted even by members of Congress that no one anticipated putting so much power in the hands of the federal government. Funny how it always ends up that way. The New England cod and haddock fisheries have been closed down four times since the law went into effect. One of these was in midsummer at the height of the season. For the first time in living memory hundreds of workers in processing plants and crews on boats were laid off in midsummer. Almost two years after the act passed, the U.S. is importing 90 percent of its fish. New England imported 30 million more pounds of cod in the year after the act than it did in the previous year. That does seem like a strange result for an act that was supposed to protect American fishing. While scientists don't seem to be able to find enough fish to count, the fishermen say the fish are thick enough to walk on. One fishing spokesman, who once supported but now regrets the 200 mile limit, says, "We'd rather be fighting the Russians--at least we'd be free." This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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