eastern part of the country. Then we are going to have a second 

 panel made up of representatives of the local recreational fishing 

 industry which are the group that brought this matter to my atten- 

 tion because of the seeming disappearance of the species from the 

 in-shore waters. 



So let me thank you all for being here and I would remind if any 

 other members happen to show up their opening statements will be 

 included in the record. I would like to begin by recognizing Mr. 

 Matlock and let me ask you to try to keep your testimony to five 

 minutes. If you run a little over, obviously we will be understand- 

 ing but if you would like to proceed, Gary. Thank you. 



STATEMENT OF DR. GARY MATLOCK, PROGRAM MANAGE- 

 MENT OFFICER, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE 



Dr. Matlock. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the 

 Subcommittee, as you have already introduced me I am Gary 

 Matlock. I am with the National Marine Fisheries Service. I am 

 very pleased to be here today to discuss the status of the bluefish 

 stock and its future management. 



NMFS has enthusiastically pursued the President's regulatory 

 reform effort over the past year really having started a reinvention 

 effort of regulations similar to the President's almost two years 

 ago. 



Our intent is to make the management of fisheries by the gov- 

 ernments involved more efficient. In light of that, we have proposed 

 revoking six fishery management plans throughout the country, 

 one of which is the one that is the subject of today's hearing, the 

 Bluefish FMP. 



The reason we selected bluefish is that it is predominately found 

 and harvested within state waters and most of the management 

 that goes on now is done by the states. This makes it an ideal spe- 

 cies for future management by the states similar to the way in 

 which it is done already. 



The recreational fishery for bluefish which is approximately 80 

 percent of the total fishery takes places primarily in state waters. 

 For example, in 1994 11.1 million bluefish were estimated to have 

 been taken in state waters versus only about 819,000 fish caught 

 in the E.E.Z. 



The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Atlantic 

 Coast States are heavily involved in the management of this spe- 

 cies in both state and Federal waters and the Commission already 

 has in place an existing interstate fishery management plan for At- 

 lantic bluefish. 



I would note here that their plan is exactly the same plan as that 

 that exists or that was implemented by the Mid-Atlantic Council. 

 The Commission's plan outlines a comprehensive management 

 strategy for bluefish and again is identical to that implemented by 

 the Council. 



The time is right now however with the passage of the Atlantic 

 Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act for management of 

 this fishery to become more efficient. The Atlantic Coastal Act is 

 a more appropriate vehicle than the Magnuson Act for advancing 

 state's interest in a species that is harvested predominately in 

 state waters. 



