WASHINGTON, D.C.– Meredith Moore, director of Ocean Conservancy’s Fish Conservation program, issued the following statement in reaction to the successful markup of the Climate-Ready Fisheries Act of 2019 in the House Committee on Natural Resources today:

“Today’s markup of the Climate-Ready Fisheries Act is a big step forward in Congress’s effort to address the impacts of climate change on our ocean. We applaud the Committee and Representative Cunningham for their leadership to ensure the sustainability of our nation’s fisheries. Ocean Conservancy now urges House Leadership to take up this legislation in the full chamber without delay.

“We’re already seeing the toll that climate change is taking on our fisheries. Fishery managers across the country are grappling with challenges like shifting fish populations and declines in productivity, and our coastal fisheries and communities are struggling with degradation of fish habitat and sea level rise. These changes are a result of factors such as warming waters, low oxygen levels, and ocean acidification.

“If passed, this legislation will help ensure our fisheries and fishing communities are prepared to deal with climate change by positioning Congress to address barriers and develop solutions to these growing challenges.”

####

Meredith Moore is available for interviews upon request.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.