HR 6537, "Sanctuary Enhancement Act of 2008"

Last week the US House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans held a hearing on HR 6537, the National Marine Sanctuary Enhancement Act of 2008.  Fishermen would do well to become familiar with the bill which would restrict fishing retroactively in existing sanctuaries and expand the number of ecoregions, unique habitats, and maritime heritage resource areas protected as sanctuaries.  

Particularly worrisome for Outer Banks fishermen is whether the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, a one square mile area about 16 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, could expand into a larger maritime heritage resource AREA with resource use implications.

The act is expected to move through the subcommittee rapidly, and even if not taken up by the full House or the Senate this year, will serve as the starting point for reauthorization next year.