1999 

 NATIONAL OVERVIEW 



Almost all major U.S. fisheries now have some form oi limited access in recognition 

 of pervasive problems ot overcapacity and overcapitalization and their effects on overfish- 

 ing. Four U.S. fisheries (Alaska halibut and sablefish, wrcckfish, and surlclams-ocean qua- 

 hogs) have individual fishing quotas (IFQ's), a mechanism considered to be effective at 

 matching fishing effort to resource productiviu', but often perceived to result in other prob- 

 lems. In 1996, the U.S. Congress established a moratorium on new IFQ programs pending 

 review by a National Academy of Sciences committee. That review was recently (December 

 1998) completed and is generalK' favorable towards IFQ's, although recognizing that this 

 system of management is not a panacea and may not be applicable for all fisheries (NRC], 

 1999a). The United States has also been involved in several FAO-sponsored initiatives 

 concerned with the issue of excess fishing capacity. 



Sablefish subsample, Aleu- 

 tian Islands bottom trawl 

 assessment survey. 



Transboundary Jurisdiction 



Many living marine resources often cross political or geographic boundaries, compli- 

 cating their assessment and management. The boundaries can be bet\veen states, between 

 adjacent countries, or even between distant countries in international waters. Sometimes 

 boundaries are crossed by juvenile or adult fish during migrations, and sometimes the 

 boundaries are crossed by larvae drifting with ocean currents. In all cases, these movements 

 complicate even the most comprehensive fisheries assessment and management regimes. 

 Effective oversight of these species requires coordination, cooperation, and agreement among 

 all interested parties. 



Stocks located primarily within Federal waters are managed under FMP's prepared by 

 regional FMC's and implemented and enforced by NMFS. Stocks whose distribution over- 

 laps the jurisdiction of more than one regional FMC require the participation of multiple 

 FMC's. Most stocks that extend beyond the U.S. EEZ are managed wholly or in part under 

 international conventions. 



Stocks located largely within the waters of more than one state are, to an increasing 

 extent, managed by interstate mechanisms. One example of successful interstate manage- 

 ment is the recovery of Atlantic striped bass under a rebuilding plan developed by the 

 Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; striped bass were considered to be fully re- 

 stored in 199S. Examples of other resources that require interstate coordination of man- 

 agement are menhaden and mackerels in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. 



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