I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4931
To strengthen protection of the natural resources of the Gulf of Maine
through greater cooperation and coordination between Federal agencies
and the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 10, 1994
Ms. SNOWE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
A BILL
To strengthen protection of the natural resources of the
Gulf of Maine through greater cooperation and coordina-
tion between Federal agencies and the Gulf of Maine
Council on the Marine Environment, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gulf of Maine Con-
servation and Cooperation Act of 1994’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings regarding
the Gulf of Maine:
(1) The Gulf of Maine is a critically important
environmental and economic resource shared by the
United States and Canada.
(2) The Gulf of Maine supports abundant and
diverse marine wildlife populations, including 100
species of birds, 73 species of fish, 26 species of
whales, dolphins, and porpoises, 1,600 types of bot-
tom-dwelling organisms, and endangered species
such as the bald eagle, roseate tern, humpback
whale, and sperm whale.
(3) The Gulf of Maine holds substantial value
as a recreation resource for people today and its
value as a recreation resource will likely increase in
the future. Nearly 1⁄3 of the United States popu-
lation, comprising approximately 75,600,000 people,
live within a 1-day drive of the Gulf of Maine. The
Gulf of Maine contains 2 United States national
parks and 1 Canadian national park, and it contains
a United States national marine sanctuary.
(4) The Gulf of Maine provides substantial
commercial benefits to the United States and Can-
ada. Its commercial fishing industry, including aqua-
culture, produces more than $800,000,000 in reve-
nues annually and employs 20,000 people. Aqua-
culture is a growing multimillion dollar industry in
the region.
(5) Tourism and recreation in the Gulf of
Maine region generate millions of dollars in revenue
each year and provide employment for thousands.
The Gulf of Maine attracts 10,000,000 visitors an-
nually. In addition, the Gulf of Maine is home to
many economically important maritime facilities,
such as ports and shipyards.
(6) Studies conducted by national and State
governments and other agencies have determined
that, without prudent, coordinated management, the
future development and use of the resources of the
Gulf of Maine may have significant adverse impacts
on the environment and economy of the bordering
States, the adjacent region, and the United States.
(7) Environmental threats to the Gulf of Maine
are too extensive and complex to be managed by any
single State, provincial, or Federal agency. Existing
threats include—
(A) high levels of toxic contaminants in the
deep basin sediments of the Gulf of Maine,
which indicate that toxic contaminants are dis-
tributed throughout the Gulf of Maine eco-
system;
(B) bacterial contamination that has closed
more than 1⁄3 of the shellfish beds in the Gulf
of Maine, resulting in significant economic
losses; and
(C) increasing loss of habitat in the Gulf
of Maine region, which results in diminished es-
tuarine and coastal habitats essential for migra-
tory waterfowl and commercially valuable fish
species.
(8) The natural resources of the Gulf of Maine
are interconnected, forming an ecosystem that tran-
scends political boundaries. It is therefore important
that the States, provinces, and Federal Governments
cooperate with one another and coordinate their
public policies, research, and management activities
related to the protection of the resources of the Gulf
of Maine.
(9) Interjurisdictional cooperation and coordina-
tion of efforts, policies, and programs can maximize
the efficient use of limited fiscal resources in the
Gulf of Maine region, and further the goal of pro-
tecting the resources of the Gulf of Maine and stim-
ulating its economy over the long-term.