TESTIMONY OF

RICHARD H. SCHAEFER

NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES CONSERVATION, WILDLIFE AND OCEANS

U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 28, 2000

Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee. My name is Richard Schaefer. I am the Chief of the Staff Office for Intergovernmental and Recreational Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). You have asked for our views on reauthorization of the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act (Striped Bass Act).

We believe that the Striped Bass Act has been the single most important statute contributing to the recovery of the coastal migratory stocks of striped bass. The Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan (Plan) of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) has been successful in reducing coast-wide fishing mortality to a level that allowed the striped bass stocks to recover. This success would not have been possible without the provisions included in the Striped Bass Act that required all participating states to participate in the Plan's very restrictive harvest control measures.

When it enacted the Striped Bass Act, Congress recognized that effective management of interjurisdictional fisheries, such as the fishery for striped bass, requires the cooperative efforts of all interested states, Federal agencies, and user groups. The recovery of Atlantic coastal striped bass stocks clearly demonstrates that fishery management works, especially when a unified, cooperative approach is taken. Each of the states that have a striped bass fishery maintains monitoring programs necessary for collection of data from those fisheries. Many of the states, as well as NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, conduct fishery-independent research programs that provide the biological samples and population data needed for striped bass stock assessments. Continuation of adequate monitoring and research programs will assure the continued success of striped bass management.

There is still work to be done in shaping measures that more closely match the needs of the many user groups that rely on this resource. The Commission is addressing those needs as it moves forward with the public process of development of Amendment #6 to the Atlantic Striped Bass Plan.

You have asked about our position on opening the 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to striped bass fishing. At present, NMFS is concerned that opening the EEZ could contribute to already high fishing mortality rates on older, larger fish that often are found in waters of the EEZ. At the current time, the moratorium in the EEZ may be providing a refuge, of sorts, for these older fish. That being the case, this may not be the appropriate time to open those waters to striped bass fishing. NMFS could support removal of the current legislative moratorium only if appropriate regulations on striped bass fishing or harvest in the EEZ were substituted in the place of the moratorium. These hypothetical new regulations would have to meet all of the requirements of the Striped Bass Act and other applicable authorities. In particular, the Striped Bass Act requires that such regulations be "sufficient to assure the long-term conservation of Atlantic striped bass populations."

That concludes my testimony, Mr. Chairman. I will be happy to respond to any questions that you or members of your Subcommittee may have.