Fisheries and Marine Conservation
The Office of Marine Conservation (OMC) is a part of the State Department's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). The Office of Marine Conservation is responsible for formulating and implementing U.S. policy on a broad range of international issues concerning living marine resources. In executing this responsibility, OES/OMC negotiates bilateral and multilateral fisheries agreements, participates in international fisheries conservation and management organizations and arrangements at the regional and global levels, and represents the U.S. in a variety of other international fora associated with the conservation and management of living marine resources.
OMC’s overarching goal is the management, conservation and restoration of stocks of living marine resources in order to:
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Maintain a healthy and productive marine environment and marine ecosystems; and
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Promote economic benefits and food security through sustainable fisheries.
Working with other US federal agencies and constituents, our specific objectives are to:
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Promote a level playing field for U.S. fishermen and access to fishery resources on an equitable basis.
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Adopt and implement effective and enforceable conservation and management measures based on reliable and objective science.
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Control and reduce bycatch and discards of juvenile fish, non-target fish species, associated and dependent species and species belonging to the same ecosystem (including sea turtles, seabirds and sharks, among others).
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Control and prevent illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
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Adopt and implement effective monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) measures.
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Control fishing capacity and fishing effort at levels commensurate with the sustainability of fish stocks.
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Protect the marine environment from destructive fishing practices, as well as marine debris and marine pollution associated with fishing activities.
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Promote trade regimes that contribute to sustainable fisheries.
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Promote responsible and sustainable aquaculture.
