Ocean Policy Introduction A December 2002 report

A December 2002 report titled "The Nation's Fisheries: A Vision of the Future" by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or "the Service") began by stating that America's fish and other aquatic resources are still among the richest and most diverse in the world. The USFWS maintained that these resources, and the recreational, commercial, and subsistence opportunities they provide, have provided significant ecological, social and economic benefits to the nation (USFWS "Vision," 2002, p. 7). For example, the Service contends that recreational fishing contributed more than $35 billion to the American economy in 2001. The Service also notes, however, that despite past efforts to conserve these resources, many of them are declining at unsustainable rates (USFWS "Vision," 2002, p. 7).

For example, the Service notes that almost 400 aquatic species either have, or need, special protection and the number of species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2002 had increased to 19 amphibian species, 21 crustacean species, 70 mussel species, and 115 fish species (USFWS "Vision," 2002, p. 7). In addition, several threatened and endangered species of fish are important recreational, subsistence, and commercially species, including several species or populations of salmon, sturgeon, and trout. In particular, 213 of the 297 (73 percent) species of freshwater mussels in America are threatened, endangered, or of special concern (

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r of expanding output from underutilized or unused species and areas, but also of "effective management of those subject to overfishing" (Stratton Commission, 1969, p. 89). Thus, it warned that, as demand grew, it would become increasingly important for the United States to establish "more accurately" the dimensions of the usable living marine resources so that production estimates could take into consideration the impairment of future yields (Stratton Commission, 1969, p. 89). Moreover, in its report, the Stratton Commission rejected the idea that self-sufficiency in natural resources was a desirable goal for American policy (Stratton Commission, 1969, p. 84). Rather, the commission considered the duality of U.S. national and international interests and concluded that U.S. national policy would benefit from progressive reductions in international trade restrictions as well as an established domestic framework to protect national needs against international natural and political events (Stratton Commission, 1969, p. 85). Thus, the commission advocated that the U.S. vigorously support multilateral fisheries development programs of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Progra

Category: Science - O