Diverse Coalition Calls on President-Elect Obama to Restore Protection for the Nation’s “Fish Basket” from Offshore Drilling
2008-11-21 01:23:05 -
Fishermen and Alaska Natives are calling on President-elect Barack Obama to reinstate drilling protections for Alaska"s fish-rich Bristol Bay and Bering Sea. Joined by conservation organizations and at least one representative of the Norwegian fishing industry, the groups will gather this week to address offshore drilling during Seattle"s Pacific Marine Expo ("Fish Expo"), the largest commercial marine tradeshow on the West Coast.
"The solution to our nation"s energy woes does not lie amid our most important fishing grounds. We urge our new President to protect these waters that sustain our livelihoods," said David Harsila, a Seattle resident and president of the Alaska Independent Fishermen"s Marketing Association (AIFMA), the largest salmon fishermen"s association for Bristol Bay.
The Bush administration abruptly ended a long-standing executive ban on offshore oil leasing in Alaska"s Bristol Bay and southeast Bering Sea in January 2007. Acting on the new opportunity, the federal Minerals Management Service (MMS) accelerated steps necessary to open Bristol Bay for drilling. Subsequently, MMS scheduled a Bristol Bay lease sale for 2011 despite recommendations by the National Marine Fisheries Service to exclude Bristol Bay from the nation"s 2007-2012 outer continental shelf leasing program.
Captain Keith Colburn, a long-time Bering Sea crab fisherman featured on the Discovery Channel"s Deadliest Catch, advocates for protection. "The fishing industry has little to gain but everything to lose from offshore drilling in Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea. The waters where drilling is proposed are teeming with fish and crab and also home to some of the most vicious weather on Earth. I"m not confident the oil and gas industry could safely operate here given the sensitivity of fisheries habitat and the horrific nature of the weather," said Colburn.
Alaska"s Bristol Bay and southeast Bering Sea provide more than 40 percent of the nation"s seafood harvest and are home to the largest runs of sockeye salmon in the world. The fisheries put at risk by offshore drilling also include pollock, halibut, cod, flatfish, herring and king crab. These fisheries are valued at more than $2 billion annually and support fishermen and families not only in Alaska, but also in the Pacific Northwest. More than 1,800 residents of Washington State alone hold permits for Bristol Bay and Bering Sea fisheries.
Fishermen and members of Washington"s congressional delegation, including Senators Maria Cantwell (D) and Patty Murray (D) requested that MMS hold public meetings in Seattle during Fish Expo to provide west coast fishermen an opportunity to participate in the leasing process. MMS, however, denied those requests, agreeing only to have a booth at Fish Expo where agency employees could answer questions. Conservation groups such as Alaska Marine Conservation Council and World Wildlife Fund criticized MMS for denying the request for the agency to hold a public forum on offshore drilling plans, a critique echoed by fishermen. "MMS has refused to provide adequate information for fishermen to participate in decisions that could affect our way of life. It doesn"t appear that the agency has any appreciation for the tremendous importance of these fisheries to the northwest and the rest of the nation," said Harsila.
ABOUT WORLD WILDLIFE FUND:
WWF is the world"s largest conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, stop the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT"id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. to learn more.
ABOUT ALASKA MARINE CONSERVATION COUNCIL:
Founded in 1994, the Alaska Marine Conservation Council (AMCC) is a community-based organization dedicated to protecting the long-term health of Alaska's oceans and sustaining the working waterfronts of our coastal communities. Our members include fishermen, subsistence harvesters, marine scientists, small business owners, conservationists, families and others who care about Alaska"s oceans. Our way of life, livelihoods and economies depend on healthy marine ecosystems. Visit cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. for more information.
AIFMA
David Harsila, 206-542-3930
or
Alaska Marine Conservation Council
Celeste Novak, 907-277-5352
or
Kathy Day, 907-229-2470
