May 22, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, NOAA Fisheries released five geographic strategic plans that tier from the national plan and provide detail of specific areas of increased emphasis for commercial and recreational fishing opportunities and the conservation of marine resources (2020-2023). Read the New England/Mid-Atlantic Plan and the other four geographic plans listed here.
The plans reflect the vision of the Department of Commerce and NOAA to help the American economy grow and a practical approach to managing our fisheries and marine resources by advancing NOAA Fisheries’ three national goals:
- Amplify the economic value of commercial and recreational fisheries while ensuring their sustainability.
- Conserve and recover protected species while supporting responsible fishing and resource development.
- Improve organizational excellence and regulatory efficiency.
Among our high-priority areas of focus highlighted in these plans are to maximize the economic yield of U.S. fisheries, reduce bycatch and entanglement, foster U.S. marine aquaculture, and focus species recovery on the most at-risk ESA-listed species.
These geographic plans help the agency achieve the three strategic goals and act effectively in its priorities around the country. The plans identify some of the key challenges in today’s strategic landscape, which NOAA Fisheries will address by investing in the people, programs, and technology platforms that most advance our highest priorities. The plans also reflect our continued commitment to improving our operations and streamlining our regulatory processes to execute our stewardship mission efficiently.
The plans acknowledge that we must be willing to move in new directions, while choosing what must be phased out, to achieve these strategic goals. We will continue to address our high-priority activities, while minimizing or eliminating efforts on low-priority activities, to provide the best value to the American public.