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restoration program through production of hatchery fish, 

 coordination of a coast-wide tagging program, and extensive study 

 and assessment of the Albemarle Sound and Roanoke River striped 

 bass stock. The Service actively participated in the development 

 of the Commission's Atlantic Sturgeon Plan and presently serves 

 on the Plan Review Team. Activities include development of 

 propagation techniques and assisting the States in a tagging 

 effort to determine migration and exploitation rates of Atlantic 

 sturgeon populations. 



The Departments of the Interior and Commerce, each with their own 

 unique capabilities and expertise, have in a coordinated manner ^ 

 worked cooperatively with the States through the Commission to 

 successfully reverse the decline of striped bass, one of the 

 Atlantic coast's most valuable fisheries. 



Coastal waters provide habitat for anadromous fishes and serve as 

 a transition zone between inland waters and Federally regulated 

 marine waters. Cooperation between the Departments of the 

 Interior and Commerce promotes and ensures: (1) coordination 

 that forges necessary partnerships between all entities having 

 jurisdictional responsibilities for fisheries and the habitats 

 they depend upon; (2) ecosystem management that will be 

 successful only if partnerships are established among all 

 management entities; and (3) optimal and efficient use of fiscal 

 and personnel resources. 



