FMPs may also provide for permits and fees for domestic 

 vessels, zones or times of limited, prohibited or special 

 types of fishing, catch limitations, gear regulations, in- 

 corporation of coastal state conservation and management 

 measures, limited access or other appropriate provisions. 



The NMFS has issued Guidelines for Development of Fish- 

 ery Management Plans (42 FR 34458, July 5, 1977) which in- 

 clude interpretation of the national standards in the FCMA, 

 requirements for plan contents and format, and procedures 

 for the development, review, and amendment of plans, 



Regional fishery management councils . Anticipating 

 that the development of fishery management plans would re- 

 quire a large amount of work, the FCMA provided for new 

 agencies, the regional fishery management councils, and 

 charged them, among other things, with the responsibility 

 for developing fishery management plans. Eight councils 

 were established with responsibility for the U.S. FCZ , out- 

 side of state waters, divided among them. The designated 

 regions are New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Gulf 

 of Mexico, Caribbean, Pacific, North Pacific, and Western 

 Pacific. The states and territories which each council rep- 

 resents are listed in Appendix B. 



The membership structure of the councils is described 

 in detail in Appendix B. For each council there are three 

 types of voting members : those appointed by the Secretary 

 of Commerce for three year terms, those designated by the 

 governors of the respective states to serve as state marine 

 fishery representatives, and the appropriate regional direc- 

 tor of NMFS. The councils also have non-voting members who 

 are representatives designated by the U.S. FWS , the Coast 

 Guard, the Marine Fisheries Commission, and the State Depart- 

 ment. Council members must be knowledgeable about management, 

 conservation and harvesting of fishery resources . Council 

 decisions are taken by a majority of voting members present 

 and voting. 



The Act provides for each council to establish its own 

 scientific and statistical committee (SSC) to provide rel- 

 evant scientific information and advice. Each council may 

 also establish advisory panels as it deems necessary to pro- 

 vide information from sources outside of the government on 

 issues related to consumer, industrial and environmental 

 interests . 



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