48 



seatrout) . 



This lack of enforceability and accountability of management 

 actions must be reversed. Failure to embrace the identified 

 management measures clearly increases the risk of further 

 depleting valuable fishery resources. In addition, failure by 

 one or more management jurisdictions to comply with recommended 

 management measures .decreases the ability of other jurisdictions 

 to successfully implement their management Plans. 



In addition, data from noncompliant States may not be available, 

 or may not conform to data needs of management Plans. As a ;. 

 result, critical data necessary to determine stock status may not 

 be available, thereby limiting the ability to make sound, 

 biologically-based management decisions. 



The draft legislation being discussed today, is similar to that 

 developed under the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act for 

 restoration of Atlantic striped bass populations. The Atlantic 

 Striped Bass Conservation Act promotes conservation and 

 cooperative management; ensures accountability by requiring 

 States to implement and enforce the Commission's Plan; and 

 through the Federal moratorium clause, provides a strong 

 incentive for the States to implement and enforce management 

 measures of the Plan. As a result of extraordinary cooperative 

 efforts between the Department of the Interior's Fish and 



