Number: 1979-27
WHEREAS, an estimated 21 million anglers in the estuarine and coastal waters of the United States catch about 1.2 billion pounds of edible finfish annually, with a total economic value of over $3.9 billion and a service industry employing over 241,000 people and the activities are growing year by year; and
WHEREAS, concern is growing about the possible depletion of valuable resources; and
WHEREAS, equitable allocations of yield are a growing necessity; and
WHEREAS, eight Regional Fishery Management Councils created by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-265) are responsible for the development of plans for managing both commercial and recreational harvest of surplus marine fishes in their respective habitats from 3 to 200 nautical miles offshore under sound conservation principles; and
WHEREAS, about two-thirds (68 in number) of the voting members of these Councils are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce from lists of qualified individuals submitted by the governors of 23 constituent states and four territorial entities; and
WHEREAS, appointments made during first two years of administration of the Act have heavily favored individuals from the commercial fishing industry leaving unfulfilled the charge in Section 2 (b)(3) “to promote domestic commercial and recreational fishing” which mandates equal consideration and equitable regulation to both methods of harvesting surplus fishes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 22-25, 1979, in Toronto, Ontario, hereby urges the governors of constituent states to nominate candidates for the Regional Fishery Management Councils in equal numbers from the ranks of recreational and commercial fishing interests when vacancies occur, and recommends that the Secretary of Commerce select qualified nominees in equal ratio from both recreational and commercial fisheries backgrounds to achieve a balance of interests, knowledge, and experience on each of the Councils.