Progress and Problems of Fisheries Management Under the Fishery Conservation and Management Act

Depletion and overfishing of domestic fishery resources prompted the passage of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976. U.S. jurisdiction was thus extended to 200 miles from the U.S. shoreline, and a new fisheries management organization was established. Eight regional fishery management councils were set up to manage fisheries in conjunction with the States and the Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). GAO examined the implementation of the Act, with emphasis on the activities of the regional councils and their interactions with NMFS.