William Gibbons-Fly
115:52 - 117:20
"Because these monuments are established under the Antiquities act, the process is exempt not only from the requirements of Magnus and Stevens, but also the requirements of the Administrative Procedures act, the National Environmental Policy act and other legislation, all of which are established by Congress to ensure fair, transparent and most importantly, science based decision making for the management of our nation's fisheries."
“Because these monuments are established under the Antiquities act, the process is exempt not only from the requirements of Magnus and Stevens, but also the requirements of the Administrative Procedures act, the National Environmental Policy act and other legislation, all of which are established by Congress to ensure fair, transparent and most importantly, science based decision making for the management of our nation's fisheries.”
- Speaker
- William Gibbons-Fly
- Timestamp
- 115:52 – 117:20
- Source
- House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing
- Community
- Alaska News
- Location
- Alaska
- Captured at
- June 3, 2026
From the transcript
For the Hawaii based Longline Fleet, the closure of the USCEZ around Johnston Atoll, along with the closure of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, has resulted in a cumulative loss of an area accounting for approximately 22% of historical catch. Because these monuments are established under the Antiquities act, the process is exempt not only from the requirements of Magnus and Stevens, but also the requirements of the Administrative Procedures act, the National Environmental Policy act and other legislation, all of which are established by Congress to ensure fair, transparent and most importantly, science based decision making for the management of our nation's fisheries. My written testimony also highlights the importance of the US Persein fleet as a critical counterbalance to China's growing influence in the region, and I refer Committee members to my testimony for more on that subject. In summary, Madam Chair, the use of the Antiquities act to circumvent the provisions of the Magnuson Stevens act erodes the economic viability of our commercial fishing industry, jeopardizes domestic and regional food security and in the Pacific opens the door for China to continue to increase its influence and presence across the region. HR8904 is vital to ensuring that fisheries management in waters under US Jurisdiction is governed as Congress has intended under the authority of the Magnuson Stevens act and related statutes.
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