Yet we are falling behind the rest of the world in production of 

 high-quality shrimp, salmon, sea bass and oysters through aquacul- 

 ture and mariculture. The Strategic Plan calls for the development 

 of environmentally-acceptable, cost-effective aquaculture systems. 



A seventh area covered in the Plan calls for the promotion of 

 global stewardship by fulfilling the Nation's commitments at the 

 U.S. summit. Some of these commitments focused on fisheries and 

 conserving coastal resources. NOAA is prepared to work closely 

 with other Federal agencies and multilateral development banks in 

 providing the technical expertise to implement those recommenda- 

 tions. 



Taken as a whole, we believe that application of NO A A- wide ca- 

 pabilities to address these seven points will lead to the restoration 

 of a thriving domestic, commercial, and recreational fishing indus- 

 try. 



Next, I would like to discuss the program element, recovery of 

 protected species. 



NOAA's Strategic Plan will promote the full recovery of depleted 

 species and the maintenance of healthy marine ecosystems. Thirty 

 marine systems are listed under the Endangered Species Act as 

 threatened or endangered, and two species of marine mammals — 

 the northern fur seal and Atlantic bottlenose dolphin — are catego- 

 rized as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. 



There are 214 salmon runs considered at risk due to commercial 

 exploitation and habitat degradation. There are continual conflicts 

 between the need to implement recovery actions and legitimate 

 commercial concerns. In order to avoid such conflicts, NOAA must 

 be proactive rather than reactive to each new crisis. 



This is already evident in our handling of sea turtles. We have 

 expanded recovery efforts beyond the southeast to include the mid- 

 Atlantic and Pacific Basin areas. 



We are now conducting several status reviews per year as well as 

 population assessments for other marine mammals stocks. We are 

 moving aggressively to establish recovery plans, develop conserva- 

 tion plans and convene workshops which bring all the affected par- 

 ties together before a crisis occurs. 



The Strategic Plan proposes a four-point program to restore and 

 maintain protected species: 



First, we will work to reduce interactions between protected spe- 

 cies and commercial fishing operations. New working models will 

 be developed to resolve conflicts between exploiting fishing re- 

 sources and conserving marine mammals and other protected spe- 

 cies. 



Second, we must improve our understanding of the status of all 

 the protected species and the impact of human activities on these 

 stocks. 



Third, the Plan calls for the aggressive implementation of recov- 

 ery and conservation plans. By 1994, we hope to have approved re- 

 covery plans for 11 protected species. 



Fourth, NOAA will be taking a proactive approach to prevent 

 listings. NMFS has initiated status reviews of species potentially at 

 risk of becoming extinct. NMFS will attempt to investigate the 

 causes for species declines and will work with others to reverse 



