Effect of 1996 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act on the Pacific Groundfish Fishery

Abstract

"The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (Magnuson Act) provided opportunities for expansion of existing and development of new fisheries on the Pacific Northwest coast. The Magnuson Act declared U.S. jurisdiction over all living marine resources within 200 miles of the U.S. coastline. Within 14 years of the Act, most foreign fishing was removed from the U.S. coastline. On the Pacific coast (Washington, Oregon, and California), about 250, 000 metric tons of foreign harvesting/processing of groundfish was converted to domestic production.

"...(T)he Magnuson Act of 1976 was instrumental in developing the groundfish fishing industry on the West Coast of the United States. This industry is today facing new challenges, partly resulting from the rapid growth of the fishing industry, and partly from the realization that sustainable levels of fishing may mean substantial reductions in harvest. The fishing industry in Oregon most likely will decline to generating about $120 million in income per year, down from $270 million in 1988."