Continuing concerns evolve around the issues of endangering other vulnerable species of the seas through the efforts of those in the fishing industry. Oceana.org is expressing a dire need in ensuring the safety of those other species like sea turtles that often fall victim to bycatch issues that leads to unnecessary death. Read http://act.oceana.org/sign/noaa_sbrm-rule_2016?source=mailing&t=2&akid=7517.1459118.YuOXjB.
As stated in the above article and concern, the NOAA Fisheries “proposed a rule that would make it even harder for scientists, fisheries managers and ocean advocates like us to find solutions to reduce the loss of marine life to bycatch. However, there is more of a need to make changes that will protect vulnerable species that will restore the health of the oceans and manage the fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The concern is that a new rule under the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) which would weaken the effects of the Act.
The effort of this petition is to encourage the NOAA Fisheries to support those concerned about the health of marine life through efforts in making changes that will protect vulnerable species of the seas through bycatch issues. They need to ensure that they strengthen and improve the proposed rule for strong SBRMs. You can help protect marine life and encourage these changes by signing and sharing this petition, adding your own thoughts and concerns.
NOAA Fisheries, Assistant Administrator Sobeck – Through the fishing industry, much of the marine life in our seas in in danger through bycatch issues. There is more of a need to make changes that will protect these vulnerable species that will restore the health of the oceans and manage the fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The concern is that a new rule under the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) which would weaken the effects of the Act. In making changes, we ask that you ensure more accurate data between fisheries or regarding bycatch, using tools that would provide recognition of bycatch problems, and ensuring design solutions that benefit our oceans and worldwide fisheries.
