94 



Mr. Thomas J. Manton 

 June 4, 1993 

 Page Three 



the Commission's coastwide plan. Additionally, each state has 

 implemented its own public hearing and input process to develop and 

 implement state-specific plans, at which time concerns that are 

 specific to management and allocation of the resources in 

 individual state waters are addressed. 



The Commission Compact incorporates some measure of public 

 input by providing for one commissioner from each state that 

 represents the state legislat\ire (or their appointee) and one that 

 is "a citizen who shall have Joiowledge of the interest in the 

 marine fisheries problem" and is appointed by the governor. 

 Although these members are appointed, in the past they have not 

 received financial assistance to cover the costs of attending the 

 various Commission functions and have therefore not been integrally 

 involved with plan development. 



The Commission recently has made substantial improvements to 

 correct this situation. Citizen appointees and legislative 

 appointees are gaining membership on some of the key committees and 

 receiving financial assistance to attend meetings. At the Spring 

 1993 Annual Meeting of the Commission, a proposal was adopted to 

 begin the formal establishment of a citizen input group. 



The Sport Fishing Institute advocates increased citizen 

 involvement at all stages of fishery management plan development. 

 However, we do not view the failure of the Commission plans to be 

 attributable solely to the Commission's neglect of "foster (ing) 

 cooperation among the states" as Mr. Schill contends. Commission 

 plans have failed because, in most cases, states have not had the 

 political will to implement restrictive management measures which 

 may cause their fishermen to sacrifice in order to provide for a 

 more stable stock along the entire coast. It is this parochial 

 view of management which has often caused a apiraling effect, where 

 each state's citizens are not willing to sacrifice when those in 

 neighboring states are not. 



We urge the Commission to adopt policies and procedures which 

 will provide for greater access to Commission procedures for the 

 general public. Their recent action to formally establish a public 

 input group is a step in the right direction. However, this group 

 must be provided with resources which allow them to effectively 

 interact and must not become a "formality" for appearances sake. 

 States must be encouraged to adopt public forums which allow 

 ordinary citizens an opportunity to air their concerns about 

 fishery management plans to their state's commissioners to the 

 A5;mfc. 



