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c. Long Term Impacts 



Assessing the long term socio-economic impacts likely 

 to result from the proposed action is difficult since the 

 Agreement does not establish specific socio-economic policies. 

 Rather, it seeks to create a framework within which effective 

 management of living resources can take place. The implemen- 

 tation of management policy will be the on-going responsibility 

 of both Parties, either through their respective fisheries 

 management authorities in the case exclusive and primary 

 management responsibility (Categories C and B) , or through 

 the Commission in the case of joint management (Category A), 

 consistent with the provisions of the Agreement. The future 

 decisions and actions of these authorities are impossible to 

 predict, since they are likely to be affected by social and 

 economic factors and future events unknowable at present. 



Biological analyses in fisheries management simply 

 establish underlying resource productivity. Normally that 

 productivity will support a range of management alternatives. 

 Within the range economic, social, and other human considera- 

 tions will determine the most acceptable or desirable 

 combination of current and future uses. For example, with 

 respect to depleted stocks, rebuilding efforts can be under- 

 taken at various rates of speed. They can be maximized as 

 the Regional Councils are attempting to do in the case of 

 Atlantic mackerel and Georges Bank herring, or effected more 



