1999 

 OUR LIVING OCEANS 



Vy^--^ 



Figure 1 



Our Living Oceans 1999 di 

 vides the 200-nautical-mile 

 U.S. Exclusive Economic 

 Zone (EEZ) Into five regions 

 for purposes of reporting 

 the status of U.S. living ma- 

 rine resources. 



latcd by applicable international laws and multilateral agreements among sovereign gov- 

 ernments, and the agencv plays an important role on behalf ot the United States in the 

 implementation of those international arrangements, bederal resource conservation laws 

 reqtiire that the best scientific information be used as the basis for management actions. 

 NMFS scientists collect and analyze nuich of these data. From these data bases, the agency 

 prepares scientific reports and makes technical presentations to fisher}- managers, industry 

 groups, and the public for use in formulating sound policies governing ihe long-ierm pro- 

 tection and sustainable use of U.S. LMR's. 



UltimateK', the Secretary of Commerce has management responsibility for most ma- 

 rine life in U.S. waters. Fishery resources are managed largely through fishery m.iiiagemeiii 

 plans (FMP's). These plans are generalK' developed b\' fisher)- manageiiieiu councils (FMC's) 

 through extensive consultations with state and other Federal agencies, affected industry 

 sectors, public interest groups, and, in pertinent cases, international science and manage- 



