Recently, you’ve heard a lot from us about the need to protect sustainable fishing policies (that are working).  In a related issue, you’ve heard us talk about our campaign to beat Congressman Steve Southerland (R-FL), who is trying hard to obliterate these important programs.  Not surprisingly, we aren’t the only ones who feel this way, and today, I’d like to present the views of a Florida Gulf Coast commercial fisherman named John Schmidt.

John will tell you that the Magnuson-Stevens Act’s regulations that are ending overfishing in U.S. waters are one of the greatest achievements of American will in recent memory, and that Catch Shares work.  He’ll also tell you that those frameworks enabled his business to thrive, and that Steve Southerland’s policies would destroy Gulf fisheries and his business.  John says it a lot better than I do, however, so I’ve included this Op Ed he wrote for the Tampa Bay Times:

Local Solutions Work for Fishing Industry and Consumers

John Schmidt

As someone who has been fishing in the Gulf of Mexico for more than 25 years, I’m exasperated by the actions of some in Congress like Rep. Steve Southerland who are working to destroy the livelihoods of myself and hundreds of other hardworking Gulf fishermen.

Earlier this month, Southerland, a Republican who represents Florida’s eastern Panhandle, wrote in The Hill newspaper about his God-given freedom to fish.

God-given freedoms in civilized societies come with responsibilities.  Sport fishermen want more fish, and so do the 97.3 percent of Americans who are simply consumers.  Healthy fisheries are the only way that this can happen. Our country should be celebrating the innovative management in recent years that finally has reversed depletion and began rebuilding our fisheries. But Rep. Southerland wants to stop that and its economic benefits in its tracks.

As someone who relies on the God-given resources in our oceans to make a living, I have seen first-hand that healthy fisheries are essential. Just like a healthy bank account produces more revenue, healthy fisheries produce more fish. Because of our rebuilding efforts, for the past several years managers have been able to increase allowable catches of red snapper at the fastest pace ever.

In his essay, Rep. Southerland expressed his support for defunding catch share programs. This innovative management system has proven vital to rebuilding our fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. Equally important is that we now have systems in place to assure our fisheries stay healthy.  These are among the best fishery management success stories in our nation’s history. Twenty years ago we would never had dreamed that we could provide fresh domestic seafood year-round while rebuilding our fisheries and our jobs at the same time.

In 2005, as the Gulf Council tried to restore our fishery with conventional management, our season was cut short and restaurants had to take grouper off the menu.  Fishermen sat at the dock for one-third of the year because managers hoped that would help rebuild the stocks, yet overfishing still happened. Fish prices were among the lowest in the United States, leaving more than 70 percent of fishermen with incomes below poverty level. Quality was poor because of gluts caused by fishermen catching all they could during the open season. Imports increased to fill the void caused by the closed season.

Things were so bad that the biggest players in the industry developed a federally underwritten “Buyout Plan” to eliminate the 600 smallest businesses from the fishery. The command-and-control management system the government was using wasn’t working. The future of fishing was bleak unless we changed something drastically. The “Buyout Plan” proved wildly unpopular with the 600 fishermen who were being eliminated. It was eventually abandoned, and fishermen looked for a better solution.

The catch share system was the fairest solution that didn’t force fishermen out. We worked with federal managers and the regional Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to establish our own program.  At the local level — not through federal mandate or expanded regulations — we established individual fishing quotas (IFQs) that would enable us to spread out our fishing season and rebuild our fishery at the same time. In 2009, 81 percent of qualified fishermen voted in favor of an active fishery management program that was focused on rebuilding our grouper stocks. In 2010 the Grouper catch share program took effect as a companion to the red snapper catch share program.

Now, for the first time in history we have year-round sustainable fishing jobs and no closed season. The fishery is more valuable because we provide fresh grouper throughout the year.  The product is the best it has ever been.  Fresh fish has become a reality again in our region.  Competition from foreign imports is down, and restaurants are putting fresh Gulf Grouper back on the menu.

The solution that fishermen forged locally is working better than anyone visualized. In spite of this success, Rep. Southerland is determined to prevent fishermen and regional councils from considering this solution for foundering fisheries. He wants to micromanage fishermen from his office in Washington.

Instead of taking away control from local fishermen and regional councils, we need stay on track with the rebuilding programs and science improvement efforts. Fishermen and regulators need the freedom to develop tools that increase access to fisheries while still conserving the resource.

Rep. Southerland should leave fisheries management in the hands of fishermen and regional councils.

John Schmidt is a commercial fisherman from Palm Harbor and a member of the Gulf Fishermen’s Association.

On Earth Day, we recommit to protecting our precious planet and glorious Mother Ocean.  At Ocean Champions, we believe the best way to do this is to elect legislators who share our goals.

In that light, we are proud to announce our endorsement of Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D-HI) for the U.S. Senate.  Congresswoman Hirono knows that clean water, healthy beaches, sustainable fisheries and thriving coral reefs are not just important on Earth Day; they’re a part of Hawaii’s cultural heritage and are necessary for a healthy state economy.

As a member of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Hirono has cosponsored legislation to prevent expanded offshore drilling, clean up ocean garbage, and protect coral reefs.  She supports implementation of the National Ocean Policy and cosponsored its legislative precursor, Oceans-21, because she knows that improved ocean governance is needed to protect, maintain and restore ocean and coastal resources for the future.  Congresswoman Hirono is also active in the House Ocean Caucus, and the Congressional Marine Sanctuary Caucus, demonstrating an ability to work across the aisle to find common ground on important issues.

As the Congresswoman noted, “For hundreds of years, Native Hawaiians relied upon the Pacific Ocean to develop a sustainable way of life.  Unfortunately, Hawaii has strayed from this wise use of our ocean resources, and we have become too dependent on other countries and the mainland for our food and our energy.  Like Ocean Champions, I am committed to a more sustainable and secure Hawaii future that supports our local fishing industry and wisely invests in home-grown energy sources including ocean energy, biofuels and wind.  I welcome the endorsement of an esteemed group like Ocean Champions, which clearly understands the importance of sustainable ocean ecosystems that promote the well-being of the people of Hawaii and reduce our dependence on foreign countries.”

In addition to her strong track record, the Congresswoman is a very effective legislator, and we’re confident that she’ll rise quickly in the Senate to provide the leadership needed to protect clean coastal water, thriving fisheries and healthy coral reefs.

Almost two months ago today I accomplished a life-long dream that I have had for over 24 years: to live by the ocean.  After a week’s long drive from Michigan, I turned onto the 101 and stole my first glimpse of my dream, accomplished. The dark-blue and teal tides waved as I continued to my new home in Monterey. The saltwater scent rushed into the car as I inched closer.  Arriving three blocks away from the ocean, I hurried down to the shore and tasted the salty water in disbelief. After 24 years, I had made it!

Monterey, CA

Growing up in Michigan, frequent trips to the Great Lakes nurtured my love for water. Many summers were spent vacationing alongside Lake Huron’s shores with family in Port Austin, Michigan’s “tip of the thumb.”  When I saw the ocean for the first time, at age 5 with my mom in the Bahamas, the vastness of the ocean amazed me. We swam with dolphins and I instantly decided to become a Marine Biologist. I couldn’t wait to discover what other amazing life forms existed below the seemingly simple surface.

Myrtle Beach, SC

Now living in Monterey, with my home three blocks from the ocean, I feel a completeness that I never had before, even while living close to the Great Lakes. There is something to be said about the human connection to the ocean, a feeling of connectedness, of calmness, of completeness.

Surrounded by an ocean-conscious community, I have learned of the many threats our oceans face today, that need immediate attention, and affect so much life that we as humans haven’t even discovered yet (let alone our own).  When I think of my personal connection with the ocean, and all of the present-day issues facing our oceans due to human behavior, I feel an urgency to act.

Though I am two years away from working on ocean conservation as a career, there are things I can do now, small steps YOU can take every day, to improve the health of our oceans. Buy ocean-friendly seafood, educate yourself on these very real, immediate ocean issues, reduce your carbon footprint, and energy-use, use fewer plastic products and help keep our beaches clean, and support organizations working to protect the ocean, and take action!

Most importantly, take a walk down to the beach, put your feet in the sand, breathe in the air, and think of your own personal connection to the ocean. What can you do today to ensure future generations can have this same experience?

At Ocean Champions, we’re fortunate to work with a group of highly dedicated, energetic problem-solvers in Washington. We are honored to support these pro-ocean candidates. However, our framework for success also involves going after some of the worst anti-ocean members of Congress. In 2006, we targeted California Representative Richard Pombo, whose atrocious environmental record led various publications to describe him as “an eco-thug” and “an enemy of the Earth.” California League of Conservation Voters CEO Warner Chabot claimed, “Having Pombo represent a district that includes Yosemite National Park is like electing Godzilla as mayor of Toyko.” Ocean Champions played an important role in crafting and executing a successful campaign that tossed Pombo from office. Now, as our environment is in more need of protection than ever, we’ll be going a bad guy once again. This year, there are plenty to choose from, and in this blog post we’ll profile two of them: freshman Representatives, Steve Southerland of Florida and Jon Runyan of New Jersey.

Congressman Southerland, who was just awarded an abysmal 6% rating in the League of Conservation Voters Scorecard, has been hard at work attempting to cripple the EPA’s ability to enforce clean water standards. Some of Southerland’s lowlights:

• Introduced H.R. 3856, the State Water Partnership Act, which seeks to obstruct the EPA’s ability to set basic nutrient content standards.
• Voted in favor of an amendment to the Continuing Appropriations Act that would have blocked the EPA from implementing new safety standards for Florida’s water (the state has been one of those worst hit by Harmful Algal Blooms).
• Voted in favor of H.R. 1938, the bill designed to bully President Obama into signing a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.
• Voted in favor of H.R. 1229, a bill which would expand lease sales for offshore oil drilling and scale back already anemic safety standards on oil rigs, barely a year after the Deepwater Horizon disaster blanketed his home state’s beaches with oil.

New Jersey’s Third District has a long history of support for ocean conservation.  Previous representatives John Adler (D) and Jim Saxton (R) were both endorsed ocean champions, but Jon Runyan has brought a screeching halt to that tradition. Given a paltry 20% rating in the latest LCV Scorecard, Runyan’s voting record articulates a clear anti-ocean stance, even though his home district is dependent on tourism attracted to local beaches.

• Runyan voted in favor of (along with clean-water foe Steve Southerland) H.R. 2018, another bill designed to curb the EPA’s ability to establish and enforce basic water standards.
• Voted in favor of the Keystone XL bill.
• Voted in favor of H.R.s 2021 and 1229, two bad bills that would expand offshore drilling, cut back safety regulations, and exempt companies from having to implement available pollution control technologies.

This November, it will be more important than ever to stand up for the future of our oceans. In addition to supporting our allies on the hill, we will also be taking the fight to a bad ocean enemy. We hope you’ll fight with us by engaging in ocean politics more than ever before.  Together, we can help build a more pro-ocean Congress.

Some of my earliest memories involve the ocean. Once when I was six or seven I watched a documentary on the giant squid. It said something to the effect that no one had ever seen one alive, but they knew that they existed because their remains had been found in the bellies of Sperm Whales. I decided that I was going to be the first person to see one alive. So on a family camping trip in Baja California, I searched every tide pool, inlet, and beach in the area and was upset to find not much more than anemones and sea crabs. My passion for the ocean has continued to intensify throughout my life and today I am a scuba divemaster studying international marine policy at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

There are many misconceptions about this ocean conservation field I have found myself in. General perception would indicate that people like me are vegetarian, that we care more about fish and whales then people, that there must be something in the water out here in California that makes people so hippy-ish, and my personal favorite, they must all be marine biologists. While there are vegetarians and marine biologists out here in sunny California, none of these perceptions must be true to love the ocean. I am none of these. I got my degree in the liberal arts, I like politics, and I eat meat like the majority of America. Truth is that all types of people love the ocean, and all types can help protect her. It is odd that we call this planet of ours “Earth”. Anyone who has ever seen a picture of our planet from space can confirm, we are an ocean plant. The ocean is the greatest resource we have; it mitigates weather, takes carbon out of the atmosphere, provides food, biodiversity, entertainment, lifestyle, etc. I beg the question: Why wouldn’t we all protect her?

Recently, we’ve been writing a lot about Senator Olympia Snowe’s sudden retirement announcement.  We discussed at length the impact this has on ocean politics, and will continue to work closely to find and help the best pro-ocean candidate to replace her.  Today, I read an op-ed from Senator Snowe on why she’s leaving, and it made me want to write this quick blog.

First, you’ve got to read the Senator’s op-ed in the Washington Post.  It’s thoughtful and interesting, and is consistent with ideas she’s expressed to us recently.  It also lays bare a critique that many people have these days; the Senate is simply a dysfunctional mess right now.

We don’t disagree, and many of our friends feel the same way.  Unfortunately, a fairly common response we see from some of our friends is to disengage from politics and from the democratic process.  On this, we vehemently disagree.  The only way to fix a broken system is to engage in more intensely than ever.  In her op-ed, Senator Snowe implores people to do this, saying:

“For change to occur, our leaders must understand that there is not only strength in compromise, courage in conciliation and honor in consensus-building — but also a political reward for following these tenets. That reward will be real only if the people demonstrate their desire for politicians to come together after the planks in their respective party platforms do not prevail.”

This is what we do.  Ocean Champions works with Members from both parties to try and find common ground on good policies that will help the ocean.  When that happens, we applaud and reward the Members who made it happen. These may not be “perfect” environmental solutions, but they are positive, they’re the ones that are able to get done, and they keep us moving forward.

I must also say that as I’ve gotten to know our endorsed champions better over time, I am almost always impressed that these are the people who will work across the aisle to keep moving forward for ocean health (and for other important issues as well). These are people you can feel good about, trying to build a democratic process that you can cheer.

So, ocean lovers out there, don’t walk away from the mess you see.  Help us solve it by engaging in democracy and politics more deeply than ever.  Together, we can take our government back from polarizing special interests and restore the place of consensus building public interests.

If you keep up with things here at Ocean Champions (and we hope you do!) you’re probably already aware that harmful algal blooms (HABs) are one of our primary concerns. It’s easy to see why: HABs are bad for everyone and everything involved. Affecting both fresh and saltwater, HABs can paralyze fishing and shellfish industries, drive off tourists, and sicken or even kill pets and people. According to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, HABs are responsible for nearly $100 million in economic damages every year.

Harmful algal blooms can occur for a number of reasons. Sometimes forming naturally, HABs can also bloom when human activity adds excess nutrients like phosphorus to waterways. Algae feed on these nutrients and, like a ‘50s monster movie, can grow to massive sizes, like this one in New Jersey last summer. Once they bloom, HABs can cause problems in two ways. Certain species of algae can produce neurotoxins that can render seafood inedible, irritate skin and eyes, or in rare instances sicken or kill. The other problem occurs when millions of algae, which have a very short lifespan, die and sink. The subsequent decomposition sucks oxygen from the water, resulting in an environment unable to sustain life – a phenomenon known as hypoxia. It also appears that hypoxic “dead zones” are expanding and HABs are increasing in number and intensity. This past year, in one of the worst HABs in decades, Lake Erie was carpeted with toxic green algae for months. In Texas’ recent brutal drought conditions, a monstrous HAB formed on the coast, ruining the state’s valuable oyster catch and keeping beach-going tourists away for months.

On October 13th, 2011 Senator and Ocean Champion Olympia Snowe introduced S. 1701, also known as the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2011. The bill, co-sponsored Ocean Champions Mark Begich, Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell, Bill Nelson, Sheldon Whitehouse, and five other Senators, is designed to develop and implement national strategies and regional action plans to combat harmful algal blooms in our oceans and waterways. The bill will also improve research and increase coordination among the organizations charged with implementing the strategy. On November 2, 2011, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee moved the bill out of committee and recommended it for consideration by the full Senate. The House version of the bill, H.R. 2484, has similarly survived committee. For a quick and easy way to tell your Representatives to get behind these bills to protect our water, wildlife, and economy, visit our Take Action page now!

The numbers concerning shark finning, like so many other ecological calamities, are devastating. Rather than recap all of the sobering data here, you can click on these informative links to learn more. No longer a luxury available only to the super-wealthy, shark fin demand has escalated and shark killings have jumped in kind. Scientists have shown that some shark populations have shrunk by as much as 95%, much of which can be attributed to increased fin harvesting. Luckily, for us and the sharks, a global movement to ban the shark fin trade has taken hold and gathered momentum. Hawaii became the first state to ban the sale or possession of shark fin products in 2010 (The law went into effect this past summer). Hawaii’s precedent-forming law built on the current federal laws, which outlaws shark finning in American waters or by American-chartered boats, but did not forbid the sale or possession of imported fins. California, Oregon, and Washington, and Guam soon followed suit. The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, a US territory, also passed a law banning the practice. Toronto, Canada’s largest city, has also recently enacted a shark fin ban. Last month, Canada’s Parliament considered a federal ban. This month, President Obama signed into law the Shark Conservation Act, which tightened loopholes and strengthened the current federal anti-finning laws. With this new legislation, as well as pilot programs in the states mentioned above that could serve as test labs for the effectiveness of overall bans, the time for a national ban on shark fins may be approaching.

Amidst the growing restrictions, some Asian groups have grown irritated with what they see is an unfair, targeted attack on their culture. While it certainly is vital to respect other cultures and their practices, these protests make fairly obvious straw man arguments. If one particular cultural practice clearly, inarguably produces a deleterious effect (as shark finning does), a legal restriction against that practice is not a blanket condemnation of the culture as a whole, and the practice’s cultural importance is not enough reason to allow it to continue. Despite such protests, general sentiment is beginning to  (very) gradually shift in Asia as well, where the consumption of shark fin soup is far more prevalent and entrenched in the culture. Recently, NBA star Yao Ming appeared in a Chinese commercial exhorting his compatriots to abstain from eating shark fin. Hong Kong-based Peninsula Hotel Group, one of the most prestigious hotel chains in Asia, recently announced that it would stop serving shark fin soup at all of its banquet functions. Today, NTUC Fairprice, Singapore’s largest supermarket chain, announced another historic landmark in the fight against finning: it will eliminate all shark fin products by the end of the first quarter of 2012. While these milestones will not spell the end of shark finning any time soon, as there are still no laws anywhere in East Asia limiting shark fin harvesting, it appears we are gaining momentum and heading in the right direction.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone (blue is more our color anyway), but if you resisted the urge to get trampled while looking for marked-down toasters and plasma TVs at 4 AM, not to worry! You can still get a great gift for your friends and family without the added insanity of post-Thanksgiving shopping. Without leaving your computer, you can give your loved ones the gift of an Ocean Champions membership.

Everyone loves the ocean, and your thoughtful gift will not only bring joy to the lucky recipient, but every dollar will go to helping preserve ocean habitats and fighting for a strong ocean policy in DC. For as little as $25 dollars per year, new members will receive exclusive access to our website’s member area, where they can connect with other Ocean Champions, email updates on our events and activities, download ocean themed wallpapers and e-cards, and the satisfaction of helping protect our oceans. In addition to being great gifts, memberships are easy to give! Just click here to sign up your new Ocean Champion, and enter their name, email, and address in the “In Honor of” section, and we’ll handle the rest. Instead of another electronic gizmo, necktie, or (heaven forbid) fruitcake, give those closest to you the gift of clean, healthy oceans!

Happy Holidays!

Recently, David Wilmot and I had the opportunity to get a tour of the Marine Mammal Center just outside San Francisco.  I was incredibly impressed with the facility itself, which has grown significantly from humble roots, and with the great work they’re doing there.  The Center rescues, rehabilitates and releases stranded or injured marine mammals, focusing on pinnapeds (elephant seals, sea lions and harbor seals), and they’re responsible for 600 miles of northern California’s coast.  Soon their geographic scope will increase further, as they’re expanding to Hawaii to care for endangered monk seals.

Over the course of an average year, they might hospitalize and treat 500 injured animals.  Not surprisingly, the number of patients is increasing, and recently they’ve treated as many as 1700 animals in a year.  In a very real way, these animals are sentinel species for ocean health (and for human health issues as well).  Many of the hospitalizations are due to injuries from marine debris, toxic buildup from feeding on mercury-laden fish, and to epilepsy caused by toxic algal blooms.

The great work the Marine Mammal Center does is a result of many factors, including the generosity of donors – large and small – and the strong leadership of its Board and Executive Director Jeff Boehm.  It also comes from a passionate and committed volunteer force.  Currently, about 1,000 volunteers carry out a wide array of duties that range from leading tours, cleaning the facilities and feeding the animals, all the way to conducting basic medical procedures and rescuing the stranded animals. Truly incredible stuff.

You can help support their work by clicking here.