Managing Our Nations Fisheries II

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Managing Our Nations Fisheries II
Focus on the Future

• Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S.
  Navy (Ret.)
• Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
  Atmosphere
• NOAA Administrator
• March 25, 2005

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OUTLINE

• U.S. Ocean Action Plan update
• Ecosystem management
• Observations
• Fisheries management

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ADMINISTRATIONS RESPONSE TO THE U.S. COMMISSION
ON OCEAN POLICY

• December 17, 2004
• Executive Order Committee on Ocean Policy
• U.S. Ocean Action Plan
• http//ocean.ceq.gov

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COMMITTEE ON OCEAN POLICY

• Will advise President and agency heads on
  policies concerning ocean-related matters

Committee on Ocean Policy Chair Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ)Cabinet Level
membership
National Security Council Policy Coordinating
CommitteeGlobal EnvironmentChair NSC
Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and
Resource Management Integration (AQUA) Co-Chairs
Office of Science Technology Policy (Associate
Director) CEQ (Deputy or COS)
Expanded ORAP(Ocean Research Advisory Panel)
National Science and Technology Council Joint
Subcommittee on Ocean Science and
Technology Co-Chairs OSTP Agency
Subcommittee for Integrated Management for Ocean
Resources (SIMOR) Co-Chairs CEQ Agency
Reporting Lines
Communication Lines
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HIGH LEVEL ATTENTION

• Our oceans sustain an abundance of natural
  wonders, enable the transportation of vital
  goods, and provide food and recreation for
  millions of Americans. My Administration is
  working with every level of government, the
  private sector, and other non-governmental
  organizations to advance the next generation of
  ocean policy.
• - President George W. Bush

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NOAAS MISSION GOALS

• Protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal
  and ocean resources through ecosystem management
• Understand climate variability and change to
  enhance societys ability to plan and respond
• Serve societys needs for weather and water
  information
• Support the Nations commerce with information
  for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound
  transportation

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ECOSYSTEM DEFINITIONS

• An ecosystem is a geographically specified system
  of organisms (including humans), the environment,
  and the processes that control its dynamics
• Ecosystem approach to management
• Adaptive
• Regionally directed
• Takes account of ecosystem knowledge
• Takes account of uncertainty
• Considers multiple external influences
• Strives to balance diverse societal objectives

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CA/OR DRIFT GILLNET FISHERY

• Leatherback Closed Area
• Annually August - November
• Loggerhead Closed Area
• June-August during El Niño years

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CHESAPEAKE BAY

• Food Web Blue Crabs, Oysters, Striped Bass,
  Humans
• Other considerations Habitat, non-point source
  pollution, life cycle differences, other species
• Observations and collaboration will allow for an
  ecosystem approach to managing this system

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EARTH OBSERVATIONS BENEFITS
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EARTH OBSERVATIONS AND FISHERIES

• Commercial recreational catch statistics
• Stock assessments
• Observer program
• Standardized sampling gear
• Oceanographic lower tropic level data

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MAGNUSON-STEVENS ACT

• Current system generally works well
• Reauthorization
• Improvements in some areas
• Ecosystem management
• Council representation
• Reducing overcapacity
• IFQs and dedicated access privileges
• Improved regional fisheries management

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IFQS/DEDICATED ACCESS PRIVILEGES

• Administration support
• Help to end the race for fish
• Increase safety at sea
• Bering Sea crab Fishery
• Magnuson-Stevens Act and IFQs

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LARGE MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
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GREAT LAKES REGIONAL COLLABORATION

• Federal, state, local, tribal governments and
  Congress
• Issue Area Strategy Teams developing strategies
  for collaboratively addressing 8 regional
  environmental priorities

• Task Force Accomplishments
• Carp Barrier
• Snakehead Rapid Response Team

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GULF OF MEXICO REGIONAL COLLABORATION

• FL, AL, MS, LA TX working with federal
  government, White House participation
• Gulf Alliance Plan of Action
• Reduce nutrient loading
• use of observations to improve water quality and
  health of beaches and shellfish beds
• wetland restoration
• Education
• habitat identification

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WRAP UP

• U.S. Ocean Action Planan exciting time in the
  ocean community
• Ecosystem managementevolutionary and incremental
• Observationsimproved scientific information for
  fisheries management
• Fisheries managementwere on a good track
• Partnerships!