(6) Conservation and management measures shall take into account and 

 allow for variations among, and contingencies in, fisheries, fishery re- 

 sources, and catches. 



(7) Conservation and management measures shall, where practicable, mini- 

 mize costs and avoid unnecessary duplication (PL 94-265). 



In addition to protecting and providing for proper utilization of fishes 

 beyond the territorial sea, this act may profoundly affect inshore fisheries 

 as well. As fishery management plans are approved and the results (both suc- 

 cesses and failures) are available for review, the individual states may enact 

 similar regulations that will better protect their own fisheries. 



Success of the act will depend on how well the councils are able to deal 

 with particularly difficult issues such as limited entry, pre-emption of a 

 state's fishery regulations, and allocation of limited or diminishing 

 resources. 



FEDERAL FUNDING 



Federal support for fishery research and development, quality control, 

 inspection, low cost loans, and research in Florida has never been great. In 

 contrast to the Northwest Pacific Coast states, which favor salmon. Federal 

 aid in the Gulf of Mexico has never been in proportion to the region's fishery 

 production. Probably the most beneficial Federal aid has been provided 

 through Public Law 88-309, The Commercial Fisheries Research and Development 

 Act of 1964. The act has provided Federal research and marketing funds on a 

 matching basis through the Florida Department of Natural Resources. These 

 funds have been responsible for accelerated research and for the development 

 of the largest seafood marketing program in the southeastern United States. 

 In 1982, Florida's share of PL 83-309 was $240,000. 



The Anadromous Fisheries Research and Development Act (PL 88-304) was en- 

 acted primarily to assist northern states with the development of anadromous 

 fisheries such as salmon. Benefits of this act to southern and Gulf states 

 were small because of the rarity of anadromous species or fisheries. Florida, 

 and in particular Northwest Florida, received some funds for studies on the 

 Alabama shad and sturgeon. 



PL 94-265 (already discussed) also provides some funding potential. The 

 individual fishery councils of the Gulf may contract for needed research 

 through state or private organizations. Although council funds for such out- 

 side work are limited, they do not require matching funds. 



The Coastal Plains Regional Development Commission, a Title V Commission, 

 already has contributed to fishery resource funding in the region. Although 

 Florida and Virginia were not members of the commission at the beginning, they 

 were included in 1976. Funding for all projects has averaged about one mil- 

 lion dollars annually. Most projects are not marine oriented. The seafood 

 port feasibility and study projects have stimulated great interest in the pan- 

 handle of Florida for establishing new and modern seafood ports. At least two 

 (one in Port St. Joe and one in Carabelle) currently are under further review. 

 Another project is the pilot oyster fattening project conducted in Franklin 



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