The ‘Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries 3’ conference has ended on a positive note, with conference participants developing 128 recommendations covering nine focus topics for improving US fishery sustainability.
Coordinated by the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries, the conference was attended by more than 600 industry representatives.
Its aim was to identify both legislative and non legislative measures to advance fishery sustainability in light of the coming reauthorisation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, which governs federal fishery management in the US.
Dave Whaley, legislative staff for the House Natural Resources Subcommittee, said: “These recommendations will be considered carefully as we move forward with Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorisation. We do need to act carefully; we do not want to solve problems in one area of the country while creating new problems in other areas."
Some of the themes that emerged from the recommendations included the need for better communication and collaboration among groups involved in fisheries, the need for flexibility in regulations; the need for more and better science and stronger measures to ensure more responsible fishery management.
Other themes included the need to consider ecosystem management, the need for stronger tools or address habitat impacts, the challenges of adapting to climate change and the benefits of a federal sustainable seafood label.
Vist the MON3 website for more information.
