RFA Joins 80 Other Groups in Opposing National Oceans Policy (NOP)
OutdoorHub 04.12.12
Eighty-one groups submitted a letter to U.S. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers (KY), as well as the Chairperson of each House Appropriations Subcommittee, asking that language be included in all Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations bills that would prohibit the use of funds to implement the new National Ocean Policy. The request was made as part of an effort to achieve a pause in policy implementation that would provide more time for oversight and examination of potential impacts.
The letter’s signatories listed below represent a wide array of commercial and recreational interests and reflect the breadth of concern that citizens and businesses across the United States continue to have about the National Ocean Policy as developed thus far. A PDF copy of the letter is available here.
Included in the list of groups signing on to support the “pause in policy implementation” through funding appropriations is the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA).
Today’s transmittal follows correspondence sent last week from U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA) to Chairman Rogers, requesting that language be included in each Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations bill that would prohibit the use of funds to implement the National Ocean Policy.
In an email blast to members last week, RFA executive director Jim Donofrio called the National Oceans Policy (NOP) “a complete takeover of our state rights,” which he said “should not be supported by either party.”
In supporting the letter sent by Chairman Hastings, RFA cited Donofrio’s testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee in 2011 in which he said “It seems counterproductive to advance and fund the NOP when it will stifle job growth in the fishing sectors.”
RFA said that fishing clubs and angling organizations who wish to support this effort toprohibit the use of funds to implement the new National Ocean Policy can fax their own letters of support – or send fax the signed letter itself with your support contained inthe cover page, to Chairman Rogers’ Committee office at 202-225-5078.
List of Opposed Groups:
Agricultural Retailers Association
Alaska Crab Coalition
Alaska Miners Association
Alaska Groundfish Data Bank
Alaska Oil and Gas Association
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce
Alaska Support Industry Alliance
Alaska Whitefish Trawlers Association
American Alliance of Fishermen and their Communities
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Forest & Paper Association
American Loggers Council
American Petroleum Institute
At-sea Processors Association
California Wetfish Producers Association
Connecticut Commercial Lobstermen’s Association
Consumer Energy Alliance
Crab Group of Independent Harvesters
CropLife America
Destin Charter Boat Association
Diving Equipment and Marketing Association
Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Forest Landowners Association
Freezer Longline Coalition
Garden State Seafood Association (NJ)
Grand Strand Fishing Alliance
Gulf Economic Survival Team
Hispanic Leadership Fund
Independent Petroleum Association of America
Institute for 21st Century Energy
International Association of Drilling Contractors
International Association of Geophysical Contractors
LA 1 Coalition
Long Island Commercial Fishing Association
Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association
Louisiana Trade Consultants
Mexico Beach Charters
Montauk Inlet Seafood
National Agricultural Aviation Association
National Association of Charterboat Operators
National Association of Home Builders
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
National Fisheries Institute
National Ocean Industries Association
National Ocean Policy Coalition
National Onion Association
New Bedford Seafood Coalition
New York Sportfishing Federation
Northern Gas Pipelines
Northwest Mining Association
Offshore Marine Service Association
Offshore Mariners Wives Association
Organized Fishermen of Florida
Pacific Seafood Processors Association
Panama City Boatmen Association
Public Lands Council
Recreational Fishing Alliance
Recreational Fishing Alliance-Forgotten Coast Chapter
Recreational Fishing Alliance-Georgia Chapter
Recreational Fishing Alliance-Oregon Chapter
Recreational Fishing Alliance-South Carolina Chapter
Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.
60 Plus Association
Shallow Water Energy Security Coalition
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration
Southeast Alaska Fishermen’s Alliance
Southeastern Fisheries Association (FL)
Southern Kingfish Association, LLC
Southern New England Fishermen’s and Lobstermen’s Association, Inc.
Southern Offshore Fishing Association (FL)
The Fertilizer Institute
United Catcher Boats
United Fishermen of Alaska
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
US Oil and Gas Association
Virginia Charter Boat Association
West Coast Seafood Processors Association
Western Business Roundtable
Western Energy Alliance
