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fishery management in three ways. First, lack of full state implementation of 

 needed conservation measures could directly affect the resource. Second, incomplete 

 participation by all states in a fishery management program could jeopardize data 

 collection and other ancillary activities necessary to make the conservation program 

 work. Third, any state's lack of full implementation makes it difficiilt for 

 neighboring states to maintain restrictive measures on their fishermen when they 

 perceive that their brethren in an adjoining state — perhaps even fishing in the 

 same w^aters — are not equally restricted. 



There are a number of ways that this could be addressed. After long 

 consideration the Commission concluded that building upon the successful experience 

 in striped bass managenient would be the most workable and effective approach. As 

 a result, at our Golden Anniversary meeting two years ago, the Commission adopted 

 the foilowring position: 



The Commission supports new federal legislation to improve the 

 effectiveness of interstate cooperation in conserving and managing 

 marine fisheries along the Atlantic coast. This legislation should 

 improve the partnership between the States and the federal 

 government; provide incentives to the States (including financial 

 incentives and the potential for moratoria) to improve cooperation; and 

 provide a substantial role for the States in deciding when and how 

 those incentives will be applied. 



This was a major step for the states in recognizing their responsibilities in 

 making conservation and management of coastal fisheries work effectively. In the 

 intervening year and a half, the Commission has worked cooperatively with other 

 constituent groups and this Committee to develop the right legislative approach 

 that would implement this position. We have found many problems with proposals 

 that either focused on species— specific measures, or that were so complicated as to be 

 unworkable. We have also steadfastly believed that new federal legislation should 

 focus on the principal role of the states in managing coastal fisheries, with the 

 federal government in a supporting role to help insure that mutually agreed upon 



