and management authority to regulate U.S. vessels when they are fishing 

 beyond the 3-mile limit of the territorial sea. This would smooth differences 

 between States by bringing pressure to bear for them to adjust variations 

 in existing State law or practice by authorizing, in a manner which comple- 

 ments appropriate State fishery laws and regulations, consistent Federal 

 regulations over all vessels in the 3- to 12-mile contiguous zone. The bills 

 also provide the specific authority to the United States to carry out its 

 obligations under international fishery agreements beyond the 12-mile 

 limit which covers all U.S. vessels (or foreign vessels when covered by 

 international agreement) on the high seas in the zone of agreement. This 

 sets up the statutory authority for coastal fishery management by species 

 rather than by geography. 



The State/Federal Management Program of the NMFS is an important 

 tool by which this management possibility can be put into sensible practice. 

 Agreements for good fisheries management practice among all States in- 

 volved in a specific fishery are being formed under this Program species 

 by species. What is being sought is general understanding of the States' 

 varying histories, practices, interests, and regulations to allow them to adjust 

 to each other's differing needs in a visibly equitable fashion. The Program 

 does this by bringing together as a planning body, technical representa- 

 tives (biologists, economists, etc.) from each of the States involved in a 

 given fishery. This body formulates a fishery management plan which is 

 checked with various of the interested parties such as commercial and 

 sports fishermen, conser\'ationists, etc. The plan is then passed on to a 

 policy or action board composed mostly of Directors of the State Fisheries 

 Services. They, in turn, work the plan and get that which is agreed upon 

 back to their respective State Legislatures for action. 



This is a long haul. Furthermore, interactions among species, which are 

 not well understood, could be very significant. At present the lobster fishery 

 and northern shrimp management plans are close to the end point although 

 several other species are in earlier stages of the procedure. An agreed lob- 

 ster plan is back with the 1 1 State Legislatures involved in the fishery for 

 individual enactments. It could be several years before it goes into effect. 

 The northern shrimp plan which involves only three States, awaits some 

 factfinding on the resource, but should be in effect sooner. Even so, suc- 

 cessful application to inshore fisheries does not do it for the offshore, inter- 

 national fisheries. 



Therefore, while the pending legislation, if passed, and the State/Fed- 

 eral Management Plan which is only now underway,* are good beginnings, 

 they are only beginnings. 



* This office has been in being for a little over a year. Support for it is such that 

 it is one of the two programs in the NMFS (the other having to do with mammal 

 protection) which has been given an increase in the FY '74 budget request. 



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