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such a system, each community could decide how best to allocate resources. 

 Controls that target fish, fishing areas, seasons, gear types, community 

 development quotas, market shares, affordable development loans, enforcement 

 effort, educational effort, and others, are all useful management tools. What is 

 especially meaningful about local co-management is that a particular community 

 of people be allowed to reach a consensus, the "island way", on what is best for a 

 specific management need. This is the goal of the community-based development 

 projects that would be created by the proposed amendments. 



Examples of possible outcomes of more local authority, or community-based 

 management might include: 1) building of a more effective partnership with state 

 and federal agencies to share ideas and resources; 2) maintenance of traditional 

 fishery management practices, the term "traditional" meaning practices and 

 observances that evolve as societies change and as communities adopt new 

 approaches to resource management; 3) training of community leaders to assist in 

 resource monitoring and enforcement; and 4) integration of local knowledge with 

 more academic information through the implementation of educational programs 

 to perpetuate fishing methods that are consisten* with the values of wise use. 



With the Committees' permission, I would like to take this opportunity to 

 note our Council's support of another proposed change to the Magnuson Act. The 

 amendment was prepared by the Joint Interior-Commerce Working Croup to 

 Review Federal Fisheries Policy in the Pacific, and is referred to as the Pacific 

 Insular Areas Fisheries Enhancement Act of 1995. This amendment would allow 

 for greater control of EEZ waters by the territorial and commonwealth governments 

 of American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The US Pacific 

 islands are at a disadvantage relative to their many Pacific neighbors, in that the 

 are not currently authorized to negotiate access agreements and fees for fishing in 

 their waters. By granting this authority to the islands, they will gain more direct 

 benefit from the resources in their waters, and they will be in a better position to 

 co-exist with their neighbors, both as competitors and partners. 



The Western Pacific Council supports any amendments to the Magnuson 

 Act that would recognize the rights and fundamental requirements of local 

 communities to have a greater hand in the management of their resources, 

 throughout the western Pacific region. More efficient and effective management at 

 the local and regional level would be a significant positive first step toward more 

 competent conservation and management of our nation's fishery resources. 



Thank you. 



