Another added benefit of shifting bluefish management primarily 

 to the Commission is that it will enhance public input by simplify- 

 ing the number of management bodies with which the public will 

 have to interact. The Commission has recently implemented a 

 strong program for public involvement in their fishery management 

 process. Therefore, there should be ample opportunity for the pub- 

 lic to stay involved under the Commission's plan. 



Be assured though that if there is a need for additional Federal 

 regulations to buttress the Commission's plan, the Commission can 

 recommend that the Secretary take action with respect to the 

 E.E.Z. 



Let me emphasize that NMFS does not intend to withdraw the 

 FMP without the Commission's recommendation to the Secretary 

 enabling Atlantic Coastal Act regulations to be implemented in the 

 E.E.Z. thereby insuring that there is no lapse in E.E.Z. regulations 

 due to this process nor no reduction in the protection of bluefish. 



The Federal interest in this important fishery will be maintained 

 through NMFS ongoing cooperation with the Commission and its 

 involvement with the Council under the authority of the Atlantic 

 Coastal Act. In the future bluefish management decisions would be 

 made by the Commission with supportive action taken by the Sec- 

 retary after consultations with the Mid-Atlantic, New England and 

 South Atlantic Councils. 



Let me emphasize that NMFS will take whatever supportive 

 measures are necessary for the conservation of bluefish either 

 through issuing complementary regulations in the E.E.Z. or impos- 

 ing moratoria in state waters when states do not comply with the 

 Commission's plan as authorized and mandated under the Atlantic 

 Coastal Act. 



We just released the proposed rule on the Atlantic Bluefish FMP 

 on March 28. The 45-day comment period will end on May 13 and 

 we would encourage anyone who has an interest in this topic to 

 submit comments to us. We want to make things better for this re- 

 source and keep it out of further risk. 



NMFS agrees with the Subcommittee's observation that the blue- 

 fish stock is declining. The latest stock assessment finalized in 

 1993 found that the bluefish stock is over exploited and at a low 

 level of abundance. Spawning stock reached a historical high in 

 1986 and has since been in a steady decline. Commercial landings 

 over the last decade have remained stable but recreational land- 

 ings have declined significantly. 



The over exploitation of bluefish by fishing in recent years, at 

 least since 1986, certainly is a factor in the continued rate of de- 

 cline of bluefish stocks. Other factors such as environmental condi- 

 tions also have a role in the decline of this species. 



We do not believe that there is new predation pressure on the 

 stocks. It has been suggested that the recent increase in the abun- 

 dance of striped bass has had an inverse effect on bluefish abun- 

 dance because of increased striped bass predation on juveniles. 



Considering the fact that striped bass stock abundance has un- 

 dergone a major increase since 1989, and bluefish stocks were al- 

 ready in a steady decline for a number of years before that, it is 

 unlikely that increased striped bass abundance has been a major 



