My Introduction to Fisheries Issues 1937

1. My Introduction to Fisheries Issues 1937

2. Dr. Evans and The Road to NOAA • March 1984 Confirmed Chairman Marine Mammal Commission: The Route to NOAA • November 1986 AA for NOAA Fisheries • April 1, 1988, Confirmed at Under Secretary of Commerce and 5th Administrator and second Under Secretary of Commerce for NOAA • Retired July 4, 1989

3. Major NOAA Issues of 1980’s • Whaling Moratorium, IWC, Aboriginal Subsistence whaling, Research Whaling • Fisheries, Red Drum, Shrimp Fisheries and TEDS, By Catch, Tuna Fisheries • Endangered Species • Modernizing the Weather Service • Lack of one GOES Satellite • International Fisheries Issues

4. Whales and Whaling

5. Commercial Whaling in Iceland, Japan and Norway • Differing Interpretation of 1946 ICRW and its 1956 Protocol

6. Industrial Whaling Factory Ship and Catcher Boats

7. Soviet Reported Data on Take

8. Soviet Real Data

9. Endangered Species Manatees and Dugongs Baiji

10. Fisheries Issues of the 1980’s and Beyond

11. The Crisis with Fisheries Many Fish Few Boats 1900 Many Boats Few Fish 1995

12. Major Fisheries Issues During My Watch • Over Fishing – Red Drum Crisis • Shrimp Fishery and Turtles and fish By-Catch –Turtle Excluder Devices TEDS • Working on Improving Communication with Fishery Management Councils • Trans Boundary Issues • International Issues • Fishing Boat Observer Program

13. Major Issues Today-Input From the Field • Over Fishing, By-Catch • By-Catch Reduction Devices (BRDs) • Developing More Effective Communication with Regional Councils • Fisheries Observer Program -Lots of Data –Lack of Funding to Analyze it. • International Programs-IWC, ICCAT • Lack of Emphasis on Habitat Research • Lack of Trained Ecologist

14. Bycatch

15. Current Issues Cont. • Graying of Leadership at Regional Research Laboratories: Too few Young PhD FTE’s as Replacements. • Allocation of Resources • Ecosystems Management-Too much Talking not Enough Doing

16. Ecosystems Management Start of a Concept • September 14, 1987, we completed a National Marine Fisheries Service Program Development Plan (PDP) for Ecosystems Monitoring and Fisheries Management. The plan had several regions submit PDP’s. • The House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, Chaired by the Congressman from Massachusetts was less than enthusiastic. The Proposal Went No-where Until 1994

17. Major Road Blocks • Reluctance of Congress to understand the necessity for an ecosystems approach to management of living marine resources. • The U.S. Policies, in dealing with the problems and issues in whaling and other endangered species issues. and our trying to not alienate our International friends, (Japan, Norway, Iceland)

18. Exxon Valdez The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) was signed into law in August of 1990, largely in response to rising public concern following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska spilling 267,000 barrels of crude oil. The spill posed a severe threat to the valuable ecosystem of Prince William Sound and surrounding areas.

19. Exxon Valdez with Boom

20. Problems • Conflicts Between Agencies with Inputs in EXXON Valdez Issues-Who has Jurisdiction? • Changes in Balance between Conservation Members and Pro-Whaling Members • Allocation of Resources with Changes in Environmental Issues.

21. Solutions? • Fisheries: Reduction in International Capacity • Better National and International Enforcement • Realignment of Priorities of the Sustainable Fisheries Act. • Whaling: Times Have Changed since 1956 Protocol was Signed. Have a Committee of Original 1946 Signatories Revisit the Convention’s (ICRW) Wording and Intent.