shrimpers from getting started. Since there are probably already many more 

 vessels than necessary to catch available stocks, a grandfathered limited 

 entry would not provide immediate relief, but it might be the long-term 

 solution. 



Another major problem of the beleaguered shrimpers is the incidental 

 catch of threatened and endangered species of marine turtles. Turtles are 

 caught in shrimp trawls during normal fishing operations and are killed if 

 held underwater by the net long enough. Emotion over this problem is so great 

 that some people and agencies have suggested that the shrimp industry should 

 be closed down. The shrimp industry is taking steps to keep the mortality at 

 a minimum. The shrimpers have agreed that trawling time will not exceed 

 90 minutes per drag in areas where turtles are abundant. The National Marine 

 Fisheries Service is experimenting on net designs that usually will not catch 

 turtles. Recent designs in the excluder trawl look very promising and large 

 scale testing is planned. These nets have other advantages as well. By 

 excluding large amounts of trash and other debris of unwanted species (such as 

 some types of jellyfish and fish too small to sell) they reduce drag, increase 

 catch, and perhaps save fuel. 



In summary, the shrimp fishery is the most valuable fishery in Florida 

 yet it is confronted with economic problems that threaten almost all 

 industries. A regional management plan for the shrimp fishing of the Gulf of 

 Mexico, United States, was reported by Christmas and Etzold (1977). 



LEGISLATION AND COOPERATIVE ACTION 



The Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-265), 

 which extended United States jurisdiction of fisheries from the territorial 

 sea out to 200 miles, is probably the most far reaching fishery regulation of 

 this century. To accomplish its purpose, eight Regional Fisheries Management 

 Councils were formed and these quasi Federal agencies were given the respon- 

 sibility for developing fishery management plans for those fish species that 

 live primarily from the outer boundary of the territorial sea to 200 miles 

 offshore (Fishery Conservation Zone FCZ). The law gives U.S. fishermen first 

 rights over all fishing stock in the zone. Foreign fishing is permitted by 

 the councils only when they determine that a surplus exists beyond that which 

 U.S. fishermen can catch. 



Although Florida is a member of two councils (the South Atlantic Fishery 

 Management Council and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council), South- 

 west Florida Fishery Conservation Zone is under the gulf council, which has 

 enacted or is working on fishery management plans for the following fish and 

 shellfish: stone crabs; shrimp (white, pink, brown, and related species); 

 reef fish (snappers, groupers, and related species); king and Spanish mackerel 

 (cooperative plan with South Atlantic Council); spiny lobster (cooperative 

 plan); groundfish (primarily species taken incidental to shrimp trawling); 

 sharks; coral (cooperative plan); and bill fish (a four-way cooperative plan 

 with South Atlantic, New England, and Caribbean councils). 



Central to the development and approval of fishery management plans are 

 the Seven National Standards that the act requires must be met. They are as 

 follows: 



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