21 



ists. Their future lies in the sustaining of this resource for genera- 

 tions and generations to come. It is not in the best interest of con- 

 servation to tolerate, if not require, the discard of thousands and 

 thousands and thousands of pounds of haddock on Georges Bay. 

 Those catches are incidental to the fishery. They've been planned 

 according to National Marine Fishery Service into this plan, so the 

 only folks that are being hurt are the fishermen that are being 

 caused to suffer the waste. 



That being said, let me talk a minute about Magnuson reauthor- 

 ization and the real opportunity it provides. 



First of all, I can't agree more with Captain Mirarchi with the 

 strength of the councils. This is a democratic government, and the 

 councils represent the very best of our democracy in dealing with 

 the resource. I think we need to maintain strong councils, make 

 sure they have adequate representation, and do two additional 

 things. 



No. 1, it's already been mentioned the councils are based on 

 science, and they ought to be. We ought to empower fishermen to 

 have access to more science. 



No. 2, we ought to be allowing the councils to make specific eco- 

 nomic recommendations that go along with the development of the 

 plan. Peter has already referenced the fact that amendment 5 does 

 not have the adequate resources to be carried through without seri- 

 ous, serious consequences to our ports. If the councils were re- 

 quired and empowered to make economic recommendations as well, 

 they could consider the entire situation not in a vacuum but as a 

 whole. 



Last, and certainly not least, I think we need to remember that 

 what we're dealing with is not only wildlife. What we're dealing 

 with is a protein resource for the entire world. We need to remem- 

 ber that. 



The people we're dealing with are not hunters, they are seafood 

 harvesters, and that's very, very important. They have the ability 

 to collect the data, they have the ability to participate in the deci- 

 sions. But we need to step up to the plate as a Federal Government 

 and as part of the Magnuson Act reauthorization and let them do 

 some of the data collection, empower them to have access to the 

 science, and last and not least let them develop a vision process. 



In Gloucester just a few months ago we had a harbor conference 

 that was attended by over 300 folks using the total quality man- 

 agement process to bring all of the sectors together and work out 

 solutions to these very complex problems. There's also a situation 

 being undertaken in Maine, I understand, and in several other lo- 

 cations. We need that vision process, because without that we're 

 left to relegate the decisionmaking to a bureaucracy. I don't want 

 to insult the bureaucracy. The fact is we're dealing with very sen- 

 sitive issues they will not have the respect of the people we regu- 

 late unless we have full participation in the process. 



That will be the hallmark of my comments. I look forward to the 

 discussion that's going to ensue. 



Again, I thank you for the opportunity. 



Senator Kerry. The only advice that I could give you is don't 

 hesitate to insult the bureaucracy. 



