Federal Agency Programs in Living Aquatic Resources and Aquatic Habitat Protection

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

Activities Related to Living Aquatic Resources. The Industry Division of the Census Bureau collects and publishes data for two Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) four-digit coded industries related to the fishing industry and fishery resources. These sectors are SIC 2091 (canned and cured seafoods) and SIC 2092 (fresh or frozen packaged fish). The data for these industries are compiled as part of two major programs -- the Census of Manufactures and the Annual Survey of Manufactures. The Agriculture and Financial Statistics Division collects and publishes data on the sales of fish and other aquaculture products on farms as part of the Census of Agriculture. The Foreign Trade Division publishes import and export data for fish and shellfish on a monthly and annual basis.

Statutory Authority. 13 U.S.C. 131, 142, 301, 303; 15 U.S.C. 1516; 19 U.S.C. 1484, 2354, 2393.

Ten-Year History of Budget and Personnel Levels. Not separately identified.

Five-Year History of Personnel by Civil Service Grade. Not separately identified.

National Policy or Goals Studies. None

Interagency and State-Federal Coordination Mechanisms. Import and export statistics are compiled in conjunction with Customs documents and shippers' export declarations provided by the Customs Service.

Periodic or Annual Reports. Available from: Bureau of the Census, DOC, Washington, DC 20233.

a) Census of Manufactures (conducted every five years for years ending in "2" and "7").

b) Census of Agriculture (conducted every five years for years ending in "2" and "7").

c) Annual Surrey of Manufactures (sample survey conducted during interim years between censuses).

d) Imports - IM 146 (monthly) and FT 247 (annual).

e) Exports - EM 545 (monthly) and FT 447 (annual).

Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Activities Related to Living Aquatic Resources. The Sanctuaries and Reserves Division (SRD) administers two Federal programs, the National Marine Sanctuary Program and the National Estuarine Reserve Research System (formerly known as the National Estuarine Sanctuary Program). The mission of the Marine Sanctuary Program is to identify, designate, and manage as national marine sanctuaries, discrete areas of the marine environment of special national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, educational, or aesthetic qualities. The primary goal of the program is resource protection. The mission of the Estuarine Reserve Research System is to establish and manage, through an equally shared Federal/State cooperative effort, a national system of estuarine reserves representative of biogeographical regions and estuarine types in the United States. The system is established to provide opportunities for long-term research, education, and interpretation; scientific and educational programs particularly focus on the development of information for improved coastal management decisionmaking.

Statutory Authority. Title III of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, as amended by the Marine Sanctuaries Amendments of 1984 and 1988 (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.); §315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.).

Ten-Year History of Budget and Personnel Levels. Figures are available only for FY1990 to FY1995.

Five-Year History of Personnel by Civil Service Grade. Not available.

National Policy or Goals Studies. None

Interagency and State-Federal Coordination Mechanisms. SRD uses CAs and IAs to coordinate activities and provide funding. CAs are used frequently with States or private institutions to initiate specific research efforts or to meet local management needs. IAs are used between NOAA and other Federal agencies to coordinate research studies and/or meet local management needs. IAs are currently in effect with DOT and the U.S. Department of the Navy.

Periodic or Annual Reports. None

National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Activities Related to Living Aquatic Resources. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is the major Federal agency managing marine mammal and fishery resources in Federal marine waters. Specific program activities include accession, analysis, and dissemination of marine living resource and fishing industry information; management and enforcement programs for marine living resources and the fishing industry; and administration of assistance programs for States and the fishing industry. A more detail description of NMFS programs is contained in CRS Report 95-460 ENR, Summaries of Major Laws Implemented by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Statutory Authority. Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.); Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.); Endangered Species Act amendments of 1988 (P.L. 100-478); Saltonstall-Kennedy Act (16 U.S. C. 713c-3); and extensive other portions of Title 16 of the U.S. Code.

Ten-Year History of Budget and Personnel Levels. Amounts are obligational authority in dollars.

Five-Year History of Personnel by Civil Service Grade.

National Policy or Goals Studies. Available from: Management and Budget Office, NMFS, Silver Spring, MD, telephone: (301) 427-2253.

a) A Marine Fisheries Program for the Nation. DOC, July 1976.

b) Eastland Fisheries Survey, a Report to Congress. Prepared by the Atlantic States, Gulf States, and Pacific Marine Fisheries Commissions, pursuant to P.L. 93-433 and S. Con. Res. 11 (93rd Congress, 1st session, 1973), May 1977.

c) Toward a Partnership for the Development of the United States Commercial Fishing Industry. Final report of the DOC Task Force on Fisheries Development, May 23, 1979.

d) NMFS Marine Recreational Fisheries Policy. 47 Federal Register 5926 (Feb. 9, 1982).

e) NMFS Strategic Plan.

f) NMFS and the Role of Aquaculture. Memorandum from William G. Gordon, Nov. 16, 1983.

g) Habitat Conservation Policy for NMFS. 48 Federal Register 53142 (Nov. 25, 1983).

h) Our Living Oceans; Report on the Status of U.S. Living Marine Resources, 1993. 136 p.

Interagency and State-Federal Coordination Mechanisms. Principal mechanisms are MOUs or MOAs and Standing Inter-Agency or Inter-Departmental Committees to address specific areas of concern relating to endangered species, marine mammals, or fisheries. In addition, ad hoc committees may be established for a limited time for a specific purpose. A joint NMFS/FWS coordinating committee was established early in 1982. This committee meets to coordinate programs and activities. NMFS routinely invites representation from other Federal agencies to participate in the DOC's Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) which meets at least twice a year to discuss living marine resource issues. Internationally, NMFS provides major substantive staying for international negotiations and conferences, and joins other Federal agencies participating in major conferences and programs.

Periodic or Annual Reports. Available from: Management and Budget Office, NMFS, Silver Spring, MD, telephone: (301) 427-2253.

a) Fisheries of the United States (annual)

b) Marine Mammal Protection Act Annual Report

c) Grant-in-Aid (Anadromous Fish Conservation Act - P.L. 89-304/Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act - P.L. 99-659) Annual Report

d) Fishermen's Contingency Fund Annual Report

e) Biennial Bluefin Tuna Report

f) Habitat Conservation Program Annual Report

g) Emergency Striped Bass Research Study Annual Report

h) Annual Report of the Secretary of Commerce on Foreign Fees

i) NMFS (Regional Fishery Management) Council Memorandum (monthly)

j) Periodic reviews of fishery-related programmatic activities (issued throughout the year by NMFS Centers, Regions, and Offices)

National Sea Grant College Program

Activities Related to Living Aquatic Resources. The National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) funds university programs (with emphasis on research) in aquaculture, fishery, general marine ecosystems, and marine pollution investigations. This program encompasses the Great Lakes as well as marine environments.

Statutory Authority. National Sea Grant College Program Authorization Act of 1987 (33 U.S.C. 1121 et seq.).

Ten-Year History of Budget and Personnel Levels.

Five-Year History of Personnel by Civil Service Grade. Federal employees evaluate projects submitted by universities for grant funding.

National Policy or Goals Studies. Available on loan from: Sea Grant Depository, Pell Library, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882.

a) Office of Sea Grant. Goals and Objectives of the National Sea Grant College Program for the Period FY1976 Through FY1980, 1976. 93 p.

b) Jennings, F. D., et al. sea Grant Aquaculture Plan, 1983-1987. Texas A&M University, College Station, 1982. 47 p.

c) Fritz, E. S. Strategy for Fisheries Research in the National Sea Grant College Program, 1985. 20 p.

Interagency and State-Federal Coordination Mechanisms. MOUs and MOAs have been entered into which promote coordination with such agencies as EPA, FWS, NMFS, and the Office of Coastal Zone Management. The focus of these agreements is the review of project proposals and participation in on-site visits. Additional coordination is achieved through personal interaction of subject-area specialists with their counterparts in various Federal agencies.

Periodic or Annual Reports. Available from: National Sea Grant College Program Office, 6010 Executive Blvd., Room 804, Rockville, MD 20852.

a) The National Sea Grant Program Annual Report.

b) Biennial report to Congress, National Sea Grant College Program.

Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Activities Related to Living Aquatic Resources. The Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment (ORCA) maintains an operational capability to evaluate the environmental and economic effects of national and regional policies and management strategies affecting the use of coastal and oceanic resources of the United States. It has developed and maintains comprehensive, nationwide databases to evaluate existing and projected coastal and oceanic resource demands, resource distributions, pollution discharges, potential environmental impacts, and use conflicts. The Office also conducts an operational monitoring program to provide comprehensive, high quality information about the toxic chemical contamination of bottom-feeding fish, mussels, oysters, and sediments for the coastal United States. These data, and data from the large national databases are used to produce thematic maps or data atlases of selected coastal regions. ORCA also provides scientific information for responses to spills of oil and hazardous chemicals in coastal environments.

Statutory Authority. Title II of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.); the National Ocean Pollution Planning Act of 1978 (33 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).

Ten-Year History of Budget and Personnel Levels.

Five-Year History of Personnel by Civil Service Grade. Not available.

National Policy or Goals Studies. None

Interagency and State-Federal Coordination Mechanisms. Data exchanges are common between ORCA and other data collection groups and are arranged on an individual basis. Information is often provided to other Federal and State agency decision makers.

Periodic or Annual Reports. Data atlases for the East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and several volumes of a National Estuarine Inventory series have already been published. Atlases for the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas and the Gulf of Alaska and West Coast are in production. For information on the atlases or information from the national databases, contact Charles N. Ehler, Director of the Office of Ocean Resources, Conservation and Assessment. National Ocean Service, N/ORCA, 6001 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20853.

U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade Administration

Activities Related to Living Aquatic Resources. The U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS), under the terms of an MOU with NOAA, is responsible for improving the U.S. fishing industry's trading position overseas. This function is achieved by: (1) facilitating and increasing contacts for U.S. seafood producers, (2) collecting and disseminating export market information to the domestic industry, and (3) conducting export promotion events and activities which will assist the industry in penetrating more foreign markets with U.S. fishing products and hardware.

Statutory Authority. Saltonstall-Kennedy Act of 1954 (15 U.S.C. 713c-3); Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.); American Fisheries Promotion Act of 1980 (Title II, P.L. 96-561).

Ten-Year History of Budget and Personnel Levels. The budget for FY1994 was $273,696; for FY1995, the budget is $330,000.

Five-Year History of Personnel by Civil Service Grade. No staff positions existed prior to 1984. In 1984, NOM assigned one full-time Fisheries Trade Coordinator (GM-15) to the Director General, US&FCS. In 1986, NOAA transferred $100,000 to the US&FCS to hire two Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs), one for Brussels and the other for Tokyo. An additional secretary was added to the Washington Office.

National Policy or Goals Studies. DOC sub-goal A.5: Increase Export and Domestic Consumption of U.S. Fisheries Products. Available from: Office of Planning and Management, ITA/US&FCS, Washington, DC 20230.

Interagency and State-Federal Coordination Mechanisms. Fisheries Product Export Support Services are coordinated with related trade development activities of NOAA/NMFS, USDA, and the U.S. Trade Representative. An MOU between the US&FCS and NOAA/NMFS provides for the allotment of time and manpower to support fishery export activities. The specific posts involved and levels of support needed in fishery promotion are revised annually and established through the US&FCS Post Commercial Action Plan (PCAP).

Periodic or Annual Reports. Available from: Export Promotion Services Office, U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service, Room 2806, DOC, Washington, DC 20230.

1) Export Statistics Profile on U.S. Seafood Products.

2) Export Statistics Profile Overview on U.S. Seafoods.

3) International Market Information for U.S. Seafood Products - available for Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.