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How
to Get Involved
One of the keys to
successful fishery management is incorporating diverse views into
decision making through a transparent public process. The Council
system was designed so that fisheries management decisions were made
at the regional level to allow input from affected stakeholders.
Council meetings are open, and public testimony - both written and
oral - is taken on each and every issue prior to deliberations and
final decisions. Public comments are also taken at all Advisory
Panel and Scientific and Statistical Committee meetings.
Each Council decision is made by recorded vote in public forum after
public comment. Final decisions then go to NMFS for a second review,
public comment, and final approval. Decisions must conform with the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, the National Environmental Policy Act,
Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and other
applicable law including several executive orders. Regulatory
changes may take up to a year or longer to implement, particularly
if complex or contentious. |
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NOAA Fisheries
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