FISH AND WILDLIFE 



OBJECTIVE AND ALTERNATIVE MEASURES 



Two objectives are considered: (1) sustain the natural biological 

 productivity of the Sound's ecosystem, including the Sound's shoreland and up- 

 land wildlife resources, and (2) increase the economic value and enjoyment of 

 the Sound's marine resourceso Fourteen alternative measures were considered 

 relating either to the satisfaction of the demand for the Sound's fishery and 

 wildlife resources or to the enhancement of the productivity of these resourceso 



EVALUATION 



Alternative measures were evaluated in terms of environmental, 

 economic, and social criteria. Environmental concepts include Cl) preservation, 

 creation, and/or restoration of wetlands and islands, (2) emphasis on the value 

 and wise utilization of the Sound's finfish, shellfish, and wildlife species, 

 (3) improvement of fishery and wildlife habitat, and (4) maintenance of or 

 increases in species diversity. Economic concepts include consideration of (l) total 

 benefits, (2) total costs, (3) benefit/cost ratios, and (4) the contribution of 

 recommended measures to economic stability- Social concepts consider methods of 

 improving access to and use of the Sound's fishery and wildlife resources. Of the 

 14 measures, the potentially most effective ones are those dealing with wetland 

 and island preservation, fishery management/ research programs, improvement of water 

 quality, establishment of fishing piers, and establishment of environmental educa- 

 tion programs o 



ALTERNATIVE PLANS 



Three plans were formulated: environmental quality (EQ), national 

 economic development (NED), and a composite of the two plans. 



RECOMMENDATION 



The Composite Plan is recommended since it eliminates those measures 

 which rated only fairly on an environmental, economic, and social basiso Of 

 the remaining measures, those measures which rated "Good" on an environmental and 

 social basis are strongly recommended. Among these are establishment of fishery 

 management/ research programs, improvement of water quality, restoration and creation 

 of wetland areas, promotion of underutilized finfish and shellfish, improvement of 

 fishery habitat, expansion of wildlife management areas, and establishment of environ- 

 mental education programs. 



