476 



continuing basis, the optimum yield from each 

 fishery. 



(2) Conservation and management measures 

 shall be based upon the best scientific informa- 

 tion available. 



(3) To the extent practicable, an individual 

 stock of fish shall be managed as a unit through- 

 out its range, and interrelated stocks of fish shall 

 be managed as a unit or in close coordination. 



(4) Conservation and management measures 

 shall not discriminate between residents of dif- 

 ferent States. If it becomes necessary to allocate 

 or assign fishing privileges among various United 

 States fishermen, such allocation shall be (A) 

 fair and equitable to all such fishermen; (B) 

 reasonably calculated to promote conservation; 

 and (C) carried out in such manner that no par- 

 ticular individual, corporation, or other entity 

 acquires an excessive share of such privileges. 



(5) Conservation and management measures 

 shall, where practicable, promote efiBciency in the 

 utilization of fishery resources; except that no 

 such measure shall have economic allocation as 

 its sole purpose. 



(6) Conservation and management measures 

 shall take into account and allow for variations 

 among, and contingencies in, fisheries, fishery 

 resources, and catches. 



(7) Conservation and management measures 

 shall, where practicable, minimize costs and avoid 

 unnecessary duplication. 



(b) Guidelines. — The Secretary shall establish 

 guidelines, based on the national standards, to 

 assist in the development of fishery management 

 plans. 



SEC 302. REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCILS 



(a) Establishment. — There shall be established, 

 within 120 days after the date of the enactment of 

 this Act, eight Regional Fishery Management 

 Councils, as follows : 



(1) New ENGLAND COUNCIL. — The New England 

 Fishery Management Council shall consist of the 

 States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, 

 Rhode Island, and Connecticut and shall have 

 authority over the fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean 

 seaward of such States. The New England Coun- 

 cil shall have 17 voting members, including 11 

 appointed by the Secretary pursuant to subsec- 

 tion (b) (1) (C) (at least one of whom shall be 

 appointed from each such State) . 



(2) MiD-ATLANTic COUNCIL. — The Mid-Atlantic 

 Fishery Management Council shall consist of the 

 States of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Penn- 

 sylvania, Maryland, and Virginia and shall have 

 authority over the fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean 

 seaward of such States. The Mid-Atlantic Coun- 

 cil shall have 19 voting members, including 12 

 appointed by the Secretary pursuant to subsec- 

 tion (b) (1) (C) cat least one of whom shall be 

 appointed from each such State) . 



(3) SOUTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL. — The South At- 

 lantic Fishery Management Council shall consist 

 of the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, 



Georgia, and Florida and shall have authority 

 over the fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean seaward 

 of such States. The South Atlantic Council shall 

 have 13 voting members, including 8 appointed 

 by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) (1) 

 (C) (at least one of whom shall be appointed 

 from each such State) . 



(4) Caribbean council. — The Caribbean Fish- 

 ery Management Council shall consist of the 

 Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto 

 Rico and shall have authority over the fisheries 

 in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean sea- 

 ward of such States. The Caribbean Council 

 shall have 7 voting members, including 4 ap- 

 pointed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection 

 (b) (1) (C) (at least one of whom shall be ap- 

 pointed from each such State) . 



(5) Gulf council. — The Gulf of Mexico Fish- 

 ery Management Council shall consist of the 

 States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, 

 and Florida and shall have authority over the 

 fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico seaward of such 

 States. The Gulf Council shall have 17 voting 

 members, including 11 appointed by the Secre- 

 tary pursuant to subsection (b) (1) (C) (at least 

 one of whom shall be appointed from each such 

 State) . 



(6) Pacific council. — The Pacific Fishery 

 Management Council shall consist of the States 

 of California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho 

 and shall have authority over the fisheries in 

 the Pacific Ocean seaward of such States. The 

 Pacific Council shall have 13 voting members, 

 including 8 appointed by the Secretary pur- 

 suant to subsection (b) (1) (C) (at least one of 

 whom shall be appointed from each such State) . 



(7) North pacific council. — The North Pa- 

 cific Fishery Management Council shall consist 

 of the States of Alaska, Washington, and Ore- 

 gon and shall have authority over the fisheries 

 in the Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, and Pacific 

 Ocean seaward of Alaska. The North Pacific 

 Council shall have 11 voting members, includ- 

 ing 7 appointed by the Secretary pursuant to 

 subsection (b)(1)(C) (5 of whom shall be ap- 

 pointed from the State of Alaska and 2 of whom 

 shall be appointed from the State of Wash- 

 ington) . 



(8) Western pacific coimciL. — The Western 

 Pacific Fishery Management Council shall con- 

 sist of the State of Hawaii, American Samoa, 

 and Guam and shall have authority over the 

 fisheries in the Pacific Ocean seaward of such 

 States. The Western Pacific Council shall have 

 11 voting members, including 7 appointed by 

 the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) (1) (C) 

 (at least one of whom shall be appointed from 

 each such State) . 



Each Council shall reflect the expertise and in- 

 terest of the several constituent States in the 

 ocean area over which such Council is granted 

 authority. 



(b) Voting Members. — (1) The voting members 

 of each Council shall be : 



