My Introduction to My Introduction to Fisheries Issues 1937Fisheries Issues 1937

Dr. Evans and The Road to Dr. Evans and The Road to NOAANOAA

March 1984 Confirmed Chairman March 1984 Confirmed Chairman Marine Mammal Commission: The Marine Mammal Commission: The Route to NOAARoute to NOAA

November 1986 AA for NOAA November 1986 AA for NOAA FisheriesFisheries

April 1, 1988, Confirmed at Under April 1, 1988, Confirmed at Under Secretary of Commerce and 5Secretary of Commerce and 5thth Administrator and second Under Administrator and second Under Secretary of Commerce for NOAASecretary of Commerce for NOAA

Retired July 4, 1989Retired July 4, 1989

Major NOAA Issues of Major NOAA Issues of 1980’s1980’s

Whaling Moratorium, IWC, Aboriginal Whaling Moratorium, IWC, Aboriginal Subsistence whaling, Research Subsistence whaling, Research WhalingWhaling

Fisheries, Red Drum, Shrimp Fisheries Fisheries, Red Drum, Shrimp Fisheries and TEDS, By Catch, Tuna Fisheriesand TEDS, By Catch, Tuna Fisheries

Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species Modernizing the Weather ServiceModernizing the Weather Service Lack of one GOES SatelliteLack of one GOES Satellite International Fisheries Issues International Fisheries Issues

Whales and WhalingWhales and Whaling

Commercial Commercial Whaling in Whaling in Iceland, Japan Iceland, Japan and Norwayand Norway

Differing Differing Interpretation of Interpretation of 1946 ICRW and 1946 ICRW and its 1956 Protocol its 1956 Protocol

Industrial WhalingIndustrial Whaling

Factory Ship and Catcher Boats

Soviet Reported Data on Soviet Reported Data on TakeTake

Soviet Real DataSoviet Real Data

Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species

Manatees and Dugongs

Baiji

Fisheries Issues of the Fisheries Issues of the 1980’s and Beyond1980’s and Beyond

The Crisis with FisheriesThe Crisis with Fisheries

Many Fish Few Boats1900

Many Boats Few Fish1995

Major Fisheries Issues Major Fisheries Issues During My WatchDuring My Watch

Over Fishing – Red Drum CrisisOver Fishing – Red Drum Crisis Shrimp Fishery and Turtles and fish Shrimp Fishery and Turtles and fish

By-Catch –Turtle Excluder Devices By-Catch –Turtle Excluder Devices TEDSTEDS

Working on Improving Communication Working on Improving Communication with Fishery Management Councilswith Fishery Management Councils

Trans Boundary IssuesTrans Boundary Issues International IssuesInternational Issues Fishing Boat Observer ProgramFishing Boat Observer Program

Major Issues Today-Input Major Issues Today-Input From the FieldFrom the Field

Over Fishing, By-CatchOver Fishing, By-Catch By-Catch Reduction Devices (BRDsBy-Catch Reduction Devices (BRDs)) Developing More Effective Developing More Effective

Communication with Regional CouncilsCommunication with Regional Councils Fisheries Observer Program -Lots of Fisheries Observer Program -Lots of

Data –Lack of Funding to Analyze it.Data –Lack of Funding to Analyze it. International Programs-IWC, ICCATInternational Programs-IWC, ICCAT Lack of Emphasis on Habitat ResearchLack of Emphasis on Habitat Research

Lack of Trained EcologistLack of Trained Ecologist

BycatchBycatch

Current Issues Cont.Current Issues Cont.

Graying of Leadership at Graying of Leadership at Regional Research Laboratories: Regional Research Laboratories: Too few Young PhD FTE’s as Too few Young PhD FTE’s as Replacements.Replacements.

Allocation of ResourcesAllocation of Resources Ecosystems Management-Too Ecosystems Management-Too

much Talking not Enough Doingmuch Talking not Enough Doing

Ecosystems Management Ecosystems Management Start of a ConceptStart of a Concept

September 14, 1987, we completed a September 14, 1987, we completed a National Marine Fisheries Service National Marine Fisheries Service Program Development Plan (PDP) for Program Development Plan (PDP) for Ecosystems Monitoring and Fisheries Ecosystems Monitoring and Fisheries Management. The plan had several Management. The plan had several regions submit PDP’s. regions submit PDP’s.

The House Merchant Marine and The House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, Chaired by the Fisheries Committee, Chaired by the Congressman from Massachusetts was Congressman from Massachusetts was less than enthusiasticless than enthusiastic. . The Proposal The Proposal Went No-where Until 1994Went No-where Until 1994

Major Road BlocksMajor Road Blocks

Reluctance of Congress to Reluctance of Congress to understand the necessity for an understand the necessity for an ecosystems approach to management ecosystems approach to management of living marine resources. of living marine resources.

The U.S. Policies, in dealing with the The U.S. Policies, in dealing with the problems and issues in whaling and problems and issues in whaling and other endangered species issues. and other endangered species issues. and our trying to not alienate our our trying to not alienate our International friends, (Japan, International friends, (Japan, Norway, Iceland) Norway, Iceland)

Exxon ValdezExxon ValdezThe Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) was The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) was

signed into law in August of 1990, largely in signed into law in August of 1990, largely in response to rising public concern following response to rising public concern following the Exxon Valdez oil spill. the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez struck On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska spilling 267,000 barrels of crude oil. spilling 267,000 barrels of crude oil. The spill posed a severe threat to the The spill posed a severe threat to the

valuable valuable ecosystem of Prince William Sound ecosystem of Prince William Sound and and surrounding areas surrounding areas. .

Exxon Valdez with BoomExxon Valdez with Boom

ProblemsProblems

Conflicts Between Agencies with Conflicts Between Agencies with Inputs in EXXON Valdez Issues-Inputs in EXXON Valdez Issues-Who has Jurisdiction? Who has Jurisdiction?

Changes in Balance between Changes in Balance between Conservation Members and Pro-Conservation Members and Pro-Whaling MembersWhaling Members

Allocation of Resources with Allocation of Resources with Changes in Environmental Changes in Environmental Issues.Issues.

Solutions?Solutions?

Fisheries: Reduction in International Fisheries: Reduction in International CapacityCapacity

Better National and International Better National and International Enforcement Enforcement

Realignment of Priorities of the Realignment of Priorities of the Sustainable Fisheries Act.Sustainable Fisheries Act.

Whaling: Times Have Changed since Whaling: Times Have Changed since 1956 Protocol was Signed. Have a 1956 Protocol was Signed. Have a Committee of Original 1946 Signatories Committee of Original 1946 Signatories Revisit the Convention’s (ICRW) Wording Revisit the Convention’s (ICRW) Wording and Intent.and Intent.