In order to address the situation, I recently introduced two pieces of legislation that will help us shape a balanced, responsive, and sensible strategy for managing our marine natural resources. It recognizes the strong commitment of our fisherman to conserving fish stocks, and it acknowledges fishermen as partners in fisheries management. The nation's fisheries management system, as it is currently designed, is broken. Currently, there are more than 100 lawsuits pending against the Department of Commerce involving fisheries management plans. Litigation is no way to manage one of our nation's most important ecological and economic resources. The courts are not suited to make biological and regulatory decisions, and millions of dollars that could be used for important research are instead squandered in endless lawsuits.
Fisheries management should be left to the fishermen, scientists, and regulators, working together cooperatively, who see what is happening in the waters every day. No one in the country understands the resource better than New England's groundfishermen. For the last two years, a court case in which a federal judge ordered severe restrictions on groundfishing - including a 20 percent cut in Days-at-Sea - has thrown New England's groundfishing industry into turmoil. The effect of this court order has been simply catastrophic for New England's groundfishing industry, an industry made up of small, independently-owned, and often family-owned, businesses. These severe restrictions were ordered despite the fact that New England groundfish stocks have increased every year since 1996. If the stock is clearly rebuilding, it makes no sense to enforce a time frame on the rebuilding process that is both arbitrary and unscientific, particularly when the survival of our fishing culture is at stake. My bill, the Fisheries Science and Management Improvement Act, would make much needed improvements in the science and regulatory standards of fisheries management. It requires scientific data, including all stock assessments, to be peer-reviewed and to include anecdotal information gathered from the people who know fishing best - the fishermen themselves.
The legislation also redefines the concept of "overfishing" to take into consideration natural fluctuations in the marine environment. It eliminates the arbitrary requirement that fisheries be rebuilt within ten years - a requirement that has no foundation in science - and instead requires rebuilding schedules to take into account the biology of the marine environment and the economic impact on fishing communities.
Finally, the legislation would reduce the litigation burden on the fisheries management system. The nation's Fishery Management Councils have asked for this lawsuit protection so that they may resume their proper role as a regulatory body.
Once we ensure that fisherman can go to sea, we must help them stay safe when they are there. That is why I also introduced the Commercial Fishermen Safety Act, which will help fishermen purchase the life-saving safety equipment they need to survive should disaster strike. Many Americans caught a glimpse of the challenges and dangers associated with earning a living in the fishing industry with the release of the movie The Perfect Storm. Though it was based on a true story, the movie only scratched the surface of what it is like to be a modern-day fisherman. Every day, members of our fishing communities struggle to balance the pressures of running a small business, complying with extensive regulations, and maintaining their vessels and equipment. Added to these challenges are the dangers associated with fishing, where disaster can strike in conditions that are far less extreme than those depicted by the movie. Year after year, commercial fishing is among the nation's most dangerous occupations. According to data compiled by the Coast Guard and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 536 fisherman have lost their lives at sea since 1994. In fact, with an annual fatality rate of about one death per 670 workers, fishing is 30 times more dangerous than the average occupation. The year 2000 will always be remembered in Maine's fishing communities as a year marked by tragedy. All told, nine commercial fishermen lost their lives off the coast of Maine in the year 2000, exceeding the combined casualties of the three previous years. Yet, as tragic as the year was, it could have been worse. Heroic acts by the Coast Guard and other fishermen resulted in the rescue of 13 commercial fishermen off the coast of Maine over the same period. In most cases, these fishermen were returned to their families because they had access to safety equipment that made the difference between life and death.
Coast Guard regulations require all fishing vessels to carry safety equipment. When an emergency arises, safety equipment is priceless. At all other times, the cost of purchasing or maintaining this equipment must compete with other expenses such as loan payments, fuel, wages, maintenance, and insurance. The Commercial Fishermen Safety Act would lend a hand to fishermen attempting to prepare in case disaster strikes. My bill provides a tax credit, capped at $1,500, equal to 75 percent of the amount paid by fishermen to purchase or maintain required safety equipment. Important items like emergency radio beacons and immersion suits cost hundreds of dollars, and life rafts can reach into the thousands. The tax credit would make life-saving equipment more affordable for more fishermen.
The two bills I have introduced would assist our nation's fishermen as they struggle to make their living on the seas. Our state is heir to a rich fishing tradition, and the hard-working Mainers who preserve this ancient livelihood and head to sea deserve common sense and consistency in the laws that govern their profession. The legislation I have introduced would give our fishing communities the tools they need to make their living safely and confidence that their way of life will be secure for future generations.