WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to give Rhode Island fishermen a voice and voting power on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), which manages some of the most important fish stocks for the state’s commercial fishing industry – chief among them squid, the Rhode Island congressional delegation today announced the reintroduction of the Rhode Island Fishermen’s Fairness Act (S.1152/H.R.2375).

The legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo would add Rhode Island to the list of states with voting representation on the MAFMC. Currently, the regional management board, which establishes fishery management rules for stocks primarily caught in the federal waters adjacent to the mid-Atlantic coast, consists of 21 voting members and four non-voting members from seven states.

In 2023 – the most recent year for which data is available – Rhode Island led Atlantic states in the harvest of squid, landing more than 30.7 million pounds in the Ocean State and helping to make Point Judith one of the most productive and valuable commercial fishing ports in the nation.

“Every decision the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council makes has a big impact on the livelihoods of Ocean State fishermen and the state’s economy.  Ensuring that Rhode Island has a voice and voting power on the council is a critical issue of fairness that I’ve led the charge on for years,” said Senator Reed, who has been pushing this issue since 2005. 

“As climate change warms the oceans, fish traditionally found in the mid-Atlantic are moving north to the waters off southern New England,” said Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee.  “Rhode Island fishermen play an important role in our economy, and our legislation will finally get them fair representation on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, where decisions are made about fish they’re catching.”

“Fishing supports thousands of jobs in the Ocean State, yet Rhode Island lacks a voice on one of the most important committees that oversees the industry,” said Representative Magaziner.  “Our bill finally adds Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, ensuring Rhode Island fishermen have a seat at the table where key decisions about their livelihoods are made.”

“In Rhode Island, fish are friends — and also food. Rhode Island’s commercial fishing industry supports thousands of jobs and plays a key role in our Blue Economy,” said Congressman Gabe Amo, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment.  “I’m glad to introduce this bill alongside my delegation colleagues to ensure our fishermen’s voices are heard on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.”

The catch of Rhode Island commercial fishermen represents a significant percentage of commercial landings of the Mid-Atlantic fishery, and is greater than most of the states represented on the Council.  In fact, the Port of Galilee is the fourth highest valued fishing port on the East Coast and Rhode Island commercial fishermen landed nearly $82 million of seafood in 2023 alone. And in 2022, the commercial fishing industry contributed 9,342 jobs and an economic impact of $872 million for the Ocean State.

Without representation on the MAFMC, Rhode Island cannot participate fully in development of fishery management plans for Mid-Atlantic stocks, many of which are crucial to the Rhode Island seafood economy.

The Rhode Island Fishermen Fairness Act would add two places for Rhode Island representation to MAFMC.  One seat would be appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under recommendations from Rhode Island’s Governor.  The second seat would be filled by Rhode Island’s principal state official with marine fishery management responsibility.  To accommodate these new members, the MAFMC would increase in size from 21 voting members to 23.