Joint Press Release
Fish and Wildlife Service NOAA 96-39
National Marine Fisheries Service
For release June 3, 1996 Janet Tennyson, FWS
Scott Smullen, NMFS
The Interior Department's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service today announced a final policy designed to improve administration of the Endangered Species Act as it relates to recreational fisheries. The policy announcement comes at the same time federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, and the sportfishing industry are celebrating National Fishing Week June 3-9, 1996.
The policy is part of a larger federal effort to improve recreational fisheries as required by Executive Order 12962 signed by President Clinton during National Fishing Week last year. The policy's development was spurred by recommendations made by the sportfishing community, which had advocated improving endangered species recovery efforts to reduce conflicts with steps to boost angler opportunities.
"The new policy will ensure consistent and effective administration of the Endangered Species Act while sound consideration is given for fisheries important to anglers," said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Mollie Beattie. "We will continue to rely on the advice of the sportfishing community to help direct our efforts to avoid or resolve conflicts when they arise."
"The policy will foster sound endangered species conservation and restoration efforts while continuing and enhancing recreational fisheries," said National Marine Fisheries Service Director Rollie Schmitten. "Successful implementation will occur by searching for common goals and resolving conflicts through solid partnerships and counsel of the angling community."
The policy will guide the agencies in using an open-minded approach to resolve conflicts on a case-by-case basis between fish restoration and recreational fishing. This will be done within the requirements of the Endangered Species Act and with the goal of finding solutions acceptable to all parties.
The Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service are responsible for administering the Endangered Species Act and cooperating with state and tribal agencies to manage fishery resources. The policy outlines steps the two agencies will take to ensure consistency in the administration of the Endangered Species Act; increase partnerships with other federal, state, and tribal fisheries managers, conservation organizations, and the recreational fisheries community; involve these groups in recovery planning and other actions taken for species listed under the Act and those proposed for listing; increase public information regarding the relationship between conservation and recovery of listed species and recreational fisheries; and provide more fishing opportunities on federal lands.
The policy was initiated by the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, a federally chartered panel of sportfishing and boating advocates from the private sector and state government agencies which counsels the Interior Secretary on recreational fishing and boating issues.
The draft policy was published in the Federal Register Dec. 13, 1995, and public comments were reviewed before the policy was made final. Most comments on the draft policy were supportive, while some raised concern about whether the policy would detract from or diminish federal agency responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act. The policy's intentions have been more clearly stated in the final version to address this concern. The final policy will be published in the Federal Register on June 3, 1996.