Biodiversity Policy Engagement Analysis
Biodiversity Lobbying Overview: The West Coast Seafood Processors Association (WCSPA) has predominantly negative engagement with biodiversity-related policy.
Top-line Messaging on Biodiversity Loss: WCSPA does not appear to have any top-line messaging on biodiversity loss. WCSPA does not appear to have acknowledged the science showing unprecedented biodiversity loss, the need for drastic action to reverse this trend or the need for government regulation.
Engagement with Biodiversity-Related Regulations: WCSPA has engaged on policy relating to sea use change, overexploitation of species and pollution.
WCSPA has engaged negatively on policy relating to sea use change, and has opposed policy relating to marine protected areas. In November 2020, WCSPA signed a joint letter opposing the 30 x 30 target, to protect 30% of the nation’s land and sea by 2030, under the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act. In comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), WCSPA advocated to narrow the size of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of California. According to reporting by Seafood Source in 2022 and Local News Matters in 2023, WCSPA does not appear to support the reintroduction of sea otters to the Pacific Coast.
Although WCSPA supported the NOAA’s proposed total allowable catches for species off the Pacific Coast in 2020 comments, WCSPA’s recent engagement on the overexploitation of species appears to be negative. Coalition comments to the NOAA in 2023, signed by WCSPA, did not appear to support updating the Magnuson-Stevens Act to better account for climate change and environmental justice issues when setting allocations and bycatch rules. In a joint letter to US Senators in 2021, WCSPA opposed the expansion of the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) to additional species.
WCSPA has also engaged on pollution-related policy in Oregon. In a 2023 briefing written by WCSPA and hosted on the website “Save Oregon Seafood”, WCSPA opposed proposed pollution permits for seafood processors in Oregon, and encouraged the public to submit comments against the plan.
Positioning on Statutory Protection of Wildlife: WCSPA does not appear to have engaged on the statutory protection of wildlife since 2020. In comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in 2020, WCSPA advocated to narrow the proposed critical habitat designation for the humpback whale.