NMFS reported a 40 percent decline in the first six months of this 

 year in Maine cod landings. The cause is well-known: open access 

 fisheries resulting in overcapitalization exemplified by a race for 

 fish and often overfishing. 



We believe government should and must play a proactive role in 

 restoring the economic viability of the fishing industry. We esti- 

 mate that a fully-productive industry could increase commercial 

 fishing net revenues annually by $2.9 billion. 



Management of U.S. fisheries is at a critical juncture. In an 

 effort to solve these problems, all eight Fishery Management Coun- 

 cils are developing plans to control access to the fisheries. Ulti- 

 mately, we hope that market forces, rather than government edict, 

 will bring the system into a more rational balance. 



The Strategic Plan outlines a seven-step program to build sus- 

 tainable fisheries. First, NOAA will expand and improve its scien- 

 tific information and assessments of fishery resources. We do not 

 know, for example, the status of 34 percent of the species which we 

 are responsible for managing. NOAA is committed to completing 

 its IT-95 and Marine Ecological Data base Systems, the so-called 

 MEDS. These national computer information systems will be locat- 

 ed at nine major sites and collect fisheries-related data. They will 

 include up-to-date stock information, combine new computer hard- 

 ware and software, and provide on-line public access. 



Second, NOAA has embarked on a program to utilize state-of-the- 

 art advanced sampling technologies, including hydroacoustics, laser 

 technology and optical sensors to improve fishery predictions. 



Third, NOAA will work with the Fishery Management Councils 

 to adopt policies to manage economic growth better and promote a 

 healthy fishing industry. As the Strategic Plan says, "NOAA has 

 no preconceived notion on how to assist the fishing industry during 

 the transition" to a market-based fishery. Working directly with 

 this Committee, we hope to develop a variety of tools to assist the 

 industry, including assuring safe, high quality seafood, Saltonstall- 

 Kennedy grants to improve industry efficiency, and continued com- 

 pensation for gear and vessel losses. 



Fourth, we will ensure adequate compliance with Federal laws 

 and regulations. 



NOAA will continue to coordinate with the Department of De- 

 fense to tap into the so-called "dual-use" technologies. One promis- 

 ing area includes use of technology for an acoustic system that has 

 the potential to enhance greatly NOAA's fishery enforcement mis- 

 sion. 



A fifth element of the Build Sustainable Fisheries program 

 would reduce the wasteful bycatch of nontarget species. We must 

 continue to improve devices to screen out protected and other non- 

 target species from fishing gear. 



The Plan's sixth element calls for acceleration of growth in U.S. 

 marine aquaculture. Marine aquaculture has the potential to pro- 

 vide new sources of income and employment in rural areas, as 

 demonstrated by the Atlantic salmon in eastern Maine. It can pro- 

 vide consumers a reliable alternate domestic food supply and may 

 also help to restore depleted commercial fisheries by reducing fish- 

 ing pressure on those stocks. 



