MAFAC Marine Fisheries Advisory Council

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MAFACMarine Fisheries Advisory Council

• Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S.
  Navy (Ret.)
• Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans
  Atmosphere
• NOAA Administrator
• January 11, 2005

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NOAAs Mission

• To understand and predict changes in the Earths
  environment and conserve and manage coastal and
  marine resources to meet our Nations economic,
  social, and environmental needs.

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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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Operational StructureNOAA Program Manager List
October 7, 2004
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Operational StructureNOAA Program Manager List
October 7, 2004
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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

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U.S. Ocean Action Plan

• Summarizes the Administrations actions
  undertaken since the Commissions report was
  drafted
• Identifies additional near-term actions that
  provide direction for ocean policy
• Outlines comprehensive, long-term actions for the
  future
• Improves governance between Federal, state, local
  and tribal authorities

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Fisheries related items

• Ecosystem approach to management
• Regional ocean councils
• Market based approaches to fishery management
• Recreational Fishing Data
• Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership

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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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Ecosystem Management in Action

• Fishery Management Plans include bycatch and
  habitat considerations
• NWHI Coral Reef Management Plan
• Collaboration with Councils

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The Herring Fishery

• Predator/prey relationship bluefin tuna/herring
• Predator/prey relationship codfish/small herring
• Predator/prey relationship herring/cod larvae
• Economic implications lobster traps use herring
  bait
• Knowledge gained through more research can be
  incorporated into management decisions

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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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North Pacific Climate Regimes and Ecosystem
Productivity (NPCREP)

• Climate change is affecting species distribution,
  recruitment, harvests and trophic interactions
• Supported by a biophysical monitoring network
• Provides managers with qualitative and
  quantitative assessments and predictions
• North Pacific FMC utilizes information to engage
  in an ecosystem approach to management

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Challenges/Areas for Improvement

• Communication Internal and External
• Federal/state jurisdictions
• VMS systems
• More research/modeling/data

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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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Aquaculture

• Opportunities satisfy rising demand for seafood,
  reduce trade deficit, enhance food security,
  replenish depleted species, provide coastal jobs
• Challenges divergent views, balancing multiple
  uses, lack of regulatory framework
• President to propose offshore aquaculture
  legislation
• Grants authority to issue offshore aquaculture
  permits
• Provides environmental and other safeguards
• Supports development of offshore aquaculture
• Consensus building