Summary

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) new rule on the national standard guidelines. GAO noted that: (1) the final rule would revise certain guidelines used in the development and review of Fishery Management Plans, amendments, and regulations prepared by the Regional Fishery Management Councils and the Secretary of Commerce under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; (2) the rule would implement changes made by the October 1996 amendments to the Act; (3) the rule would revise guidelines for optimum yield, scientific information, allocations, efficiency, and costs and benefits and add guidelines for new national standards concerning communities, bycatch, and safety of life at sea; and (4) NOAA complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.