Statement of Hon. Don Young, a U.S. Representative from Alaska 



Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that we are considering the regulation of interjuris- 

 dictional fisheries. As fish do not understand the boundaries between State and Fed- 

 eral waters, it is important to develop regulatory schemes which manage the species 

 throughout their ranges. 



Management of even a single fishery may be difficult. The situation is complicat- 

 ed when numerous States and the Federal Government all have a stake in oversight 

 of a fishery. While the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coast regions each has a commis- 

 sion to develop regional fishery management plans for coastal fisheries in State 

 waters, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which includes a multi- 

 tude of States, has a particular problem getting agreement on management meas- 

 ures. Compliance by most States does not lead to recovery of the resource when an- 

 other State reaps the benefits of its noncompliance. It is vital that we establish a 

 framework to provide rational management of interjurisdictional fisheries. 



At the same time, we must be careful not to trample on the rights of individual 

 States to manage their fish and wildlife. I hope that whatever bill we finally ap- 

 prove strikes the proper balance between State and Federal responsibilities. 



Mr. Chairman, I look forward to working with you on this important issue for our 

 Subcommittee. 



Mr. Studds. The gentleman from California. 



STATEMENT OF HON. DAN HAMBURG, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE 

 FROM CALIFORNIA 



Mr. Hamburg. Yes. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, and col- 

 leagues. I am very glad to be able to attend this hearing. Even 

 though it is dealing with Atlantic Fisheries issues, I think there 

 are a lot of things to be learned here about the Pacific fishery that 

 is my first concern. 



A fish knows no jurisdiction. It migrates where it must, driven 

 by its primal biological needs. And as humans, we have tried to 

 impose our own structure on these creatures and have found that 

 it has not worked in promoting their long-term survival or their 

 sustainability. And while this hearing today is focusing on interjur- 

 isdictional concerns in the Atlantic, it is, at the same time, address- 

 ing the broader question of how to most constructively manage and 

 steward all our fisheries throughout the coastal United States. 



Forty-five percent of our living marine resources of known status 

 are classed by the National Marine Fisheries Service as overuti- 

 lized. This is a convincing indicator that we must be totally com- 

 mitted to developing a comprehensive and uniform system that will 

 promote the effective long-term management of our resources. 



I look forward to hearing the testimony today from these distin- 

 guished witnesses so that I can better understand this aspect of 

 fisheries regulation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



[Statement of Mr. Lancaster follows:] 



Statement of Hon. H. Martin Lancaster, a U.S. Representative from North 



Carouna 



Grood afternoon, the Fisheries Management Subcommittee meets today to hear 

 testimony on East Coast interjurisdictional fishery management. In the context of 

 this hearing, interjurisdictional fisheries management involves the regulation of 

 fishing activities that occur in both Federal and State waters or within the waters 

 of several States. 



Fishing in Federal waters is subject to Federal law, specifically the Magnuson 

 Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Under the Magnuson Act, eight region- 

 al fishery management councils develop plans and regulations to regulate and con- 

 serve threatened fish species. 



