16 



With respect to timeframes for plan implementation, New York 

 strongly supports prompt implementation of all existing manage- 

 ment plans but recognizes that some States may need more than 

 one year to do so, particularly when State legislation needs to be 

 enacted. We recommend that a maximum period of 18 months be 

 allowed following adoption of an implementation schedule by the 

 Commission. 



Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to testify. We look 

 forward to responding to questions and answering any further 

 questions the Committee may have following today's hearing. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Colvin can be found at the end of 

 the hearing.] 



Mr. Lancaster. Thank you, Mr. Colvin. Mr. Loftus. 



STAl «:MENT of ANDREW LOFTUS, RESEARCH SPECIALIST, 

 SPORT FISHING INSTITUTE 



Mr. LoFTUS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and the other members 

 of the Subcommittee for providing this opportunity to express the 

 views of the Sport Fishing Institute on H.R. 2134 and on the gener- 

 al concept of interjurisdictional fisheries management. 



The Sport Fishing Institute is a nonprofit fisheries conservation 

 and education organization representing the interests of the sport 

 fishing industry and the tens of millions of Americans who rely on 

 recreational fishing as a leisure activity. Proper management of 

 fish stocks which provide for long-term stability and yield is para- 

 mount to providing robust recreational fisheries and to fostering a 

 stable economic climate in which the recreational fisheries busi- 

 nesses can develop and sustain their business. The draft legislation 

 that we have reviewed, with strengthening amendments, will pro- 

 vide for improved management and, as such, is supported by the 

 Sport Fishing Institute. 



Due in part to inconsistencies in management goals bet^yeen gov- 

 ernment agencies, the current status of Atlantic fisheries is deplor- 

 able. Quick passage of this legislation will provide quick relief to 

 devastated fisheries. Although the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 

 Commission was formed more than 50 years ago to improve man- 

 agement of migratory species and has adopted 17 fishery manage- 

 ment plans covering somewhere around 20 species, only three of 

 these plans have been fully implemented by the States. One of 

 these, the Striped Bass Plan, was implemented only through the 

 conservation leadership that was provided by this Committee and 

 by the United States Congress. 



The Sport Fishing Institute supports the State management of 

 fisheries which occur within the jurisdictional waters of the States. 

 However, discrete stocks of migratory fish must be managed as a 

 unit throughout their range and life cycle, and management plans 

 must be based on total mortality rates rather than simply landing 

 statistics. It is, therefore, imperative that all management authori- 

 ties develop and adhere to measures outlined in coordinated plans. 



As is the case with weakfish restoration, reluctance of even a 

 single jurisdiction to abide by common management strategies 

 could cause programs to fail across the entire range of the affected 

 fish stock. Therefore, a mechanism which provides the States with 



