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Rep. Young’s Remarks From Today’s Resources Markup
Rep. Young’s Amendment Passes By Voice Vote

Washington, Jun 10 -

Washington, D.C. – The Committee on Natural Resources met in open markup session this morning to review and markup twelve separate bills, including H. R. 556, the Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act, which would establish a program of research, recovery, and other activities to provide for the recovery of the southern sea otter. 

Rep. Young offered an amendment to this legislation that will also add a termination date to the bill.  As the bill is read now, if the sea otter were to be taken off the Endangered Species list the Secretary would still have to meet the requirements of H.R.556.  The termination date makes it clear that if the sea otter population recovers this legislation would no longer be in effect.   Rep. Young’s amendment was agreed to by voice vote. 

While the Endangered Species Act authorizes funding for recovery and research actions for listed species, H.R. 556 singles out the Southern sea otter for its own funding and research and recovery program. In addition, the USFWS can use the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to issue grant funding for sea otter recovery actions.

To view Rep. Young’s remarks on his own amendment to the Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act click here.

Please note that in the attached amendment, everything before the word “termination” was struck.

Rep. Young’s remarks as prepared and given:

“Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment for H.R. 556.

“I was here in Congress when the Southern sea otter was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.   The concern at the time of the listing was that the population was so small and confined to one area that it could be devastated by a catastrophic event, which the Fish and Wildlife Service defined as an oil spill.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service developed a Recovery Plan for the sea otter which included moving part of the sea otter population to San Nicholas Island.  Congress passed Public Law 99-625 to authorize the Service to undertake this translocation program.  At the time, the fishing industry bought into the program because the Service had committed to return stray sea otters in the management area back to the San Nicholas Island translocation area, away from the fisheries the industry depended on.

“As is usually the case, the fishing industry got the short end of the stick with regard to the implementation of the translocation program.   The Service determined the translocation program to be a failure and did not move the San Nicholas Island sea otters back to the coastal parent population.   The sea otters are now expanding south from the parent population and growing in numbers at San Nicholas Island and are eating the fishermen’s livelihood!  The fishermen worked in good faith to help restore the sea otter population and I believe the Service has ignored its responsibilities under Public Law 99-625. While many may want to ignore the fishermen, I do believe we should honor the commitment made to them when the translocation program was first developed.

“My amendment will require the Secretary of the Interior to evaluate the expansion of the sea otter population and determine the economic impact the expansion has on the fishing industry.  As this species recovers and expands its range, it will continue to compete with the fishing industry for shellfish.  The Service let the fishing industry down under the translocation program, the Secretary should be required to monitor the effects the sea otter expansion has on the fishing industry which is also dependent on the shellfish resource.

“The amendment will also add a termination date to the bill.  As I read the bill now, if the sea otter were to be taken off the Endangered Species list the Secretary would still have to meet the requirements of this bill.  The termination date makes it clear that if the sea otter population recovers this legislation would no longer be in effect.  

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

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