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yield enormous economic and ecologic benefits in addition to those accruing to 

 fisheries. By protecting fish habitat, we will also protect the biological diversity, 

 numerous services, economic outputs, and aesthetic value of whole watersheds and 

 coastal zones. Such comprehensive ecosystem protection also holds the greatest 

 promise for preventing the precipitous declines in natural populations that trigger 

 restrictions imposed by the Endangered Species Act. 



The MFCMA does not give fisheries managers direct control over activities that 

 impair or destroy fish habitat, even though these activities have a direct impact on 

 fisheries. Agencies with jurisdiction over harmful activities often are not focused on 

 protecting fish habitat. Greater coordination between government agencies, land use 

 authorities, fisheries management councils, and those whose activities harm fish habitat 

 is needed. The conventional exclusive focus by managers on one or a few species, 

 or a few aspects of ecosystem structure or function, is inadequate. Ecosystem 

 management is needed, in which the goal is to protect resources, biological diversity, 

 and sustainable economic activity across jurisdictional boundaries, at a variety of 

 geographic scales. 



* The MFCMA should mandate interagency coordination to protect fish habitat on 

 an ecosystem management basis. 



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