U.S. seafood industry professionals have joined forces to oppose the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2020, a comprehensive piece of legislation that aims to leverage the ocean’s potential in the fight against climate change, in the lead up to a Full Committee Hearing on the proposed bill today by The House Committee on Natural Resources. The opposition is due to provisions in the bill for 30×30, the goal to protect 30% of US lands and oceans by 2030.
In response, Greenpeace USA Senior Oceans Campaigner Arlo Hemphill said:
“The Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act is exactly what the US needs to mitigate the impacts of climate change. It’s disappointing to see the seafood industry once again choose a misguided approach of profit over the state of our planet when in fact, this piece of legislation will actually help fisheries by protecting critical breeding and nursery habitat, and facilitating fishery overspill.
Marine habitats are under constant strain from unsustainable and destructive methods of industrial fishing, while the industry is moving in the right direction there is still much work to be done. We need to consider the impacts of fishing on all marine life – reefs, turtles, dolphins, and other protected species. Sanctuaries are a tool that protects these species while allowing fisheries to thrive elsewhere.
The U.S. has been a global leader in ocean protection with currently 23% of US waters fully or highly protected in ocean sanctuaries. The remaining 7% needed to achieve the 30% goal by 2030 would safeguard vulnerable habitats with benefits to fisheries, wildlife and communities alike.”
ENDS
Notes:
[1] The full legislative text is available here. A fact-sheet of the bill is available here.
Contact: Crystal Mojica, Senior Communications Specialist, Greenpeace USA: +1 (646) 530-1581, [email protected]
