MILLER: NORTH AMERICAN CRAB FISHERIES REGULATIONS 



discussion, each recommendation is voted upon by 

 the board in the meeting before proceeding to the 

 next item. 



District management officers have authority to 

 adjust seasons and harvest levels and to open and 

 close fishing areas by field announcement. 



British Columbia and Eastern Canada 



Regulations in these areas, excluding Quebec, 

 are under Federal control. Proposals from any 

 party are submitted to the regional resource 

 management group who drafts regulations. These 

 are forwarded to a resource management group in 

 Ottawa who checks for consistency with existing 

 regulations and considers the justification offered 

 in light of their experience. The Justice Depart- 

 ment then checks for contraventions of existing 

 laws, especially the human rights code. It then 

 passes through senior management levels of the 

 Fisheries and Marine Service to the Minister of 

 State for Fisheries. If approval is granted, the 

 Minister finally seeks approval from the Federal 

 Cabinet. Regional Directors of Fisheries have 

 authority to adjust seasons and quotas. 



Washington 



The Director of the Department of Fisheries has 

 authority to establish many types of fishery 

 regulations, e.g., seasons, gear restrictions, and 

 size limits, after holding public hearings. The 

 State legislature has exclusive authority in setting 

 license fees and can legislate in areas normally the 

 responsibility of the Director. 



Oregon 



Staff biologists submit proposals to the Marine 

 Fisheries Regional Supervisor who in turn for- 

 wards them to the State Fisheries Director. If 

 approved at both these levels, proposals are sub- 

 mitted to a seven-member commission at a public 

 hearing. The commission hears staff and public 

 testimony and accepts, rejects, or modifies the 

 proposal. If accepted, it is registered with the 

 Secretary of State and goes in force. Any citizen of 

 the State may request a public hearing of the 

 commission to consider his views on fisheries 

 regulations. The commissioners are appointed by 

 the Governor and may be any private citizens of 

 the State except an officer in a sportsmen's or- 

 ganization or an affiliate of the commercial fishing 

 industry. 



California 



A staff biologist submits his proposed law 

 change to his regional manager of the Department 

 of Fish and Game, who in turn submits it to the 

 Department Director. The Director enlists the 

 cooperation of a State senator or representative to 

 sponsor a bill in the legislature where it must be 

 passed by both houses and signed by the Governor. 

 An industry representative may begin at any level 

 in this sequence. 



Delaware 



The Division of Fish and Game drafts new laws 

 at their own initiative or in response to requests 

 from the public. These drafts of new laws are 

 submitted to a Natural Resources Committee 

 composed of State legislators who in turn brings 

 the recommendations to the legislature for a vote. 

 The laws that have been passed by the legislature 

 are finally signed by the State Governor. 



The Division of Fish and Game may also initiate 

 resolutions. These are not enforceable but are 

 desirable policy in the view of the division. Hear- 

 ings are held by the division to solicit public 

 opinion. Final approval is required from only the 

 Secretary of State. 



Maryland 



Recommendations for changes in regulations 

 are submitted to a Fisheries Administration 

 staffed by government employees. After the 

 legality of the submission is ensured, public hear- 

 ings are held by the Fisheries Administration in 

 areas which would be affected by the change. A 

 legislative board of review composed of State 

 legislators must finally approve changes. 



Fishery laws are dealt with in the State legisla- 

 ture and are submitted for their consideration by 

 either government or private sources. A legisla- 

 tive committee holds public hearings on proposed 

 changes before they are brought to a vote in the 

 legislature. 



North Carolina 



A nine-member Fisheries Advisory Board ap- 

 pointed by the Governor is staffed by three repre- 

 sentatives each from recreational fisheries, com- 

 mercial fisheries, and the scientific community. 

 This is a source group which advises a seven- 

 member Fisheries Commission. The latter group. 



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