Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act”.
Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act
A BILL
To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to add Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
Rhode Island fishermen participate in fisheries managed by the New England Fishery Management Council (hereinafter referred to as the “NEFMC”) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (hereinafter referred to as the “MAFMC”).
Rhode Island currently has voting membership on the NEFMC under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act but does not have voting membership on the MAFMC.
Rhode Island lands more MAFMC-managed stocks than any other MAFMC member except the State of New Jersey.
A higher percentage of Rhode Island’s commercial landings (by weight or value) traditionally have come from species that are managed by the MAFMC as compared to species managed by NEFMC.
MAFMC has found that Rhode Island’s circumstance parallels that of Florida and North Carolina, which each have voting membership on two different fishery management councils.
Sec. 3 Addition of Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Section 302(a)(1)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852(a)(1)(B)) is amended—
by inserting “Rhode Island,” after “States of”;
by inserting “Rhode Island,” after “except North Carolina,”;
by striking “21” and inserting “23”; and
by striking “13” and inserting “14”.