our commercial fisheries. But if they were to fail, there is ample authority under both the treaty and 

 commerce clauses of the Constitution for the Congress to increase the Federal regulatory role in 

 fisheries. 



The Resources Panel has not recommended any one organizational anangement for fisheries 

 management. Rather, the panel concluded that detailed regional or species-oriented studies of the impact 

 of Federal, State, and local institutional barriers would be desirable before any reorganization attempt 

 be made, and we commend the efforts of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries to begin such studies. The 

 panel has stated, however, that new management techniques should be instituted calling for increased 

 coordination among the States and a greater Federal role in determining National fisheries policies and 

 priorities. We suggest below the broad outlines of three organizational arrangements that could promote 

 coordination among the States and a greater Federal role, details for which would have to be filled in as 

 part of a concerted effort to create new fisheries management anangements. 



2. Regional Compact for Economic Development 



a. Under a regional compact for economic development, the marine fisheries compacts could be 

 amended to strengthen the roles both of the marine fisheries commissions and the Federal Government 

 with regard to the U.S. commercial fisheries. 



b. Toward establishment of a regional compact to strengthen the roles of the commissions and the 

 Federal Government, the following features would be appropriate: 



—Regulation of marine fisheries in the territorial and internal waters of the United States remain in the 

 States, as at present; 



-The marine fisheries compacts could be amended to make the Federal Government a signatory member 

 of the compacts, in addition to the States; 



—Decisions of the marine fisheries commissions could be based upon the affirmative vote of the Federal 

 Government representative and a majority of the member States; 



—The staffs of the marine fisheries commissions could be augmented to include planning and 

 coordinating competence; 



—Administrative expenses of the marine fisheries commissions could be paid 50 per cent by the Federal 

 Government and 50 per cent by the States; 



—Federal monies for scientific research, economic investigations, and other programs which, under 

 present law, are expended by or in the States, could be placed in the control of the marine fisheries 

 commissions, to be expended in accordance with the National fisheries policies and priorities established 

 by the Federal Government; 



-The States should have primary responsibility for developing plans and programs for expenditure of 

 Federal funds, in accordance with the national fisheries policies and priorities established by the Federal 

 Government; 



—The marine fisheries commissions could be empowered to enter contracts and to make grants, 

 cooperative agreements, or other arrangements necessary to carry out their functions; 



—The marine fisheries commissions could be financed solely by appropriations, contracts, or grants from 

 the Federal Government and member State governments. Member State governments in arrears of their 

 allocable share, should not be eligible for Federal financial assistance. 



c. The Federal Government should sponsor detailed review and analysis of the impact of Federal, 

 State, and local institutional barriers inhibiting development of U.S. commercial fisheries. 



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