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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is a |
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problem with serious economic, environmental, and security |
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implications; and |
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WHEREAS, Illegal fishing accounts for economic losses of |
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billions of dollars per year globally, and millions of those lost |
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dollars result from poaching in the Gulf of Mexico; such activity is |
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largely conducted by foreign fleets at the expense of United States |
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fishermen, coastal communities, and the sustainability of global |
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fish stocks; and |
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WHEREAS, Illegal fishing is of particular consequence in |
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Texas, where the Gulf Coast waters supply seafood for the American |
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public and support the hospitality industry, tourism-related |
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businesses, and the vibrant recreational and commercial fishing |
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industry; not only does illegal fishing result in economic losses |
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to the Texas fishing industry and other coastal businesses, but it |
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also is a threat to the sustainability of our fisheries and to the |
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Texas Gulf Coast ecosystem; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the |
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United States Coast Guard are to be commended for their partnership |
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in investigating and apprehending foreign vessels engaged in |
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illegal activity along the Texas-Mexico border; and |
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WHEREAS, Foreign nationals fishing illegally in U.S. waters |
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compete for local stock, and they disregard state and federal laws |
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on catch limits; when they sell their fish in the United States, |
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they can flood the market with a cheaper product; moreover, they |
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often use banned longline netting that imperils marine mammals and |
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sea turtles; and |
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WHEREAS, Vessels involved with illegal fishing are also |
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associated with other crimes, including drug trafficking, human |
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trafficking, and illegal immigration, and the incursion by these |
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foreign fishing vessels into U.S. waters constitutes a violation of |
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our sovereignty; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby express its commitment to the elimination of |
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illegal fishing, to the long-term conservation of Texas marine |
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resources, and to the protection of the Texas Gulf Coast fishing and |
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coastal communities; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives hereby |
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respectfully urge the United States Congress to take action to |
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protect our coastal borders and to end illegal, unreported, and |
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unregulated fishing in our sovereign waters; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the chief clerk forward official copies of |
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this resolution to the president of the United States, to the |
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president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all members |
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of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this |
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resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to |
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the Congress of the United States of America. |