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lowest average level since the late 1960s and early 1970s. 



The draft bill will facilitate the conservation, restoration, and 

 cooperative management of these and other valuable 

 interjurisdictional fishery resources along the Atlantic coast 

 for both recreational and commercial fishermen. 



To stem the current rate of decline of our coastal fishery 

 resources, the States, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 

 Commission (Commission) , the Federal government, and the private 

 sector must work together to develop, implement, and enforce 

 scientifically based management plans that will prevent 

 overfishing, and provide for continued, sustainable harvest. 

 These management plans must be based on the best scientific 

 information available. 



To conserve coastal fishery resources, we must work cooperatively 

 to identify and reduce other factors that adversely impact 

 populations, such as habitat loss, pollution, and nonindigenous 

 species. Fishery restoration should be undertaken as part of a 

 broader ecosystem based approach. Such an approach should focus 

 on: (1) identifying important habitats, such as those used for 

 spawning, overwintering, growth, or residency; (2) providing for 

 the monitoring of the status of habitat; and (3) recommending 

 actions to reduce degradation of habitat. Also, habitat 

 improvement, such as wetlands restoration, must be an important 



