National OvervicAv 



INTRODUCTION 



The conservation and management ofliving marine resources (LMR's) in tiie United 

 States is entrusted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National 

 Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which carries out its charge under many hiws, treaties, 

 and legislative mandates from the U.S. Congress. Most of the agency's stewardship respon- 

 sibilities come from five statutes: 



• The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA) 

 regulates fisheries within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), 



• The Endangered Species Act (ESA) protects species that are in danger of extinc- 

 tion or likely to become an endangered species, 



• The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulates the taking of marine 

 mammals, 



• The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWC^A) authorizes collection of fish- 

 eries data and coordination with other agencies for environmental decisions 

 affecting LMR's, and 



1 he Feder.' 



il lower 



Act provities for concurrent responsibilities with the U.S. 



Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in protecting aquatic habitat. 



The NMFS regulates fisheries in the 3-200 nautical mile (n.mi.) Federal EEZ sea- 

 ward of the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. -affiliated islands (Figure I). 

 Within the 0-3 n.mi. territorial sea,' management jurisdiction belongs to the coastal states 

 and multistate fisheries commissions. International waters outside the U.S. EEZ are regu- 



Icrntiirul w.itcrs extend 'l n.mi, oft the shiires ofTex.!*, the Florid.i CulfCoast, .md Ptierto Rico. 



