Kodiak fisherman testifies about illegal fishing at U.S. Senate subcommittee meeting
Gabriel Prout and his family have fished the Silver Spray, a Kodiak-based commercial fishing boat, for about 20 years. But on Thursday, he traded his Xtratufs and fishing gear for a suit to represent Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, a trade association that represents the Bering Sea fleet, for a meeting with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. He was the only fisherman on the panel to discuss the impact of illegal, unregulated and unreported – or IUU – fishing on American fishing fleets. Prout presented a few ideas to the subcommittee he thinks could help, like better monitoring seafood imports and mandating labels for countries of origin. Prout also said other countries have more subsidies for fishermen than the U.S. does and asked for programs to help fishermen facing rising costs. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:02
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