what appears to be a growing trend by the Federal Department of 

 Commerce to simply ignore or, I think it would be fair to say, flout 

 the decisions that are coming out of the regional bodies, specifically 

 the Pacific Fishery Management Council. We are seeing a pattern 

 where, in effect, there is a great effort to involve local citizens, 

 local communities, those most directly affected by the decision 

 being made, and then the Commerce Department, in a fashion 

 that, at best, seems arbitrary and using a seat of the pants kind of 

 process, sets aside the decision of regional bodies. If that is, in fact, 

 the case, at some point people are going to say, what is the use of 

 trying to bring a regional focus and local input, if Washington, DC 

 is just going to take it away from us and make these judgments on 

 a political basis. 



The second and last point that concerns me is that, as the sub- 

 committee looks at the regulatory framework in which the fishing 

 industry operates today, it appears to me that more and more of 

 the regulations are being skewed to favor the big businesses. If you 

 look at the regulatory system, it appears that the new regulations 

 consistently seem to focus on the arguments that have been made 

 by the large businesses and give short shrift to the many small 

 businesses that tend to predominate on the Oregon coast. 



This subcommittee exists to advocate for small business. We 

 want small business to get a fair shake. It seems to me that there 

 needs to be more balance, and there needs to be a sense of propor- 

 tion brought back into the regulatory process so that these regula- 

 tions are no longer skewed in favor of big business, but are bal- 

 anced between the needs of both small and large businesses. This 

 way, the small businesses that Congressman Kopetski and I saw 

 first-hand this morning will get a fair shake. 



So, this will be the end of the Chair's opening statement. Again, 

 I want to commend our friend. Congressman Kopetski, for his good 

 work, for getting us here today, and for all the leadership he has 

 shown. 



[Chairman Wyden's statement may be found in the appendix.] 



Mr. Kopetski. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome to New- 

 port and to Lincoln County. 



I want to thank you for taking the time and effort to hold this 

 hearing here in Newport today. As you can see, before us is an 

 issue of great importance and interest to many people on the 

 Oregon coast. We deeply appreciate your willingness to take time 

 from your busy schedule and to bring your subcommittee out of 

 your district to the coast of Oregon. Truly, you are an Oregon Rep- 

 resentative, and we appreciate that. 



Today, we will be hearing from many of the key players in the 

 development of the onshore whiting fishery in Oregon. I am espe- 

 cially pleased to see that Barry Fisher, president of the Midwater 

 Trawlers Association, will be testifying today. Barry, arguably the 

 grandfather of whiting fishery in Oregon, has spent many hours 

 with me and my staff getting this formerly landlocked legislator up 

 to speed on the issues affecting Oregon's coastal fishermen. I am 

 also grateful that other members of the coastal fishing community 

 are able to attend. Similarly, I am happy to see the State of Oregon 

 and fisheries associations and commissions well represented at this 

 hearing. 



