Presidential Executive Order 12962 on Recreational Fisheries
Strengthen efforts to improve fisheries conservation and provide for more and better recreational fishing opportunities, and To develop a new policy to promote compatibility between the protection of endangered species and recreational fisheries, and to develop a comprehensive Recreational Fishery Resources Conservation Plan.
PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS
Federal Register
Vol. 60, No. 111
Friday, June 9, 1995
Title 3 -
The President
Executive Order 12962 of June 7, 1995
Recreational Fisheries
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution
and the laws of the United States of America, and in furtherance
of the purposes of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C.
742a-d, and e-j), the-Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16
U.S.C. 661-666c), the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and the Magnuson Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801-1882), and other pertinent
statutes, and in order to conserve, restore, and enhance aquatic
systems to provide for increased recreational fishing
opportunities nationwide, it is ordered as follows:
Section 1. Federal Agency Duties. Federal agencies shall, to the
extent permitted by law and where practicable, and in cooperation
with States and Tribes, improve the quantity, function,
sustainable productivity, and distribution of U.S. aquatic
resources for increased recreational fishing opportunities by:
(a) developing and encouraging partnerships between governments
and the private sector to advance aquatic resource conservation
and enhance recreational fishing opportunities;
(b) identifying recreational fishing opportunities that are
limited by water quality and habitat degradation and promoting
restoration to support viable, healthy, and, where feasible, self-
sustaining recreational fisheries;
(c) fostering sound aquatic conservation and restoration
endeavors to benefit recreational fisheries;
(d) providing access to and promoting awareness of
opportunities for public participation and enjoyment of U.S.
recreational fishery resources;
(e) supporting outreach programs designed to stimulate
angler participation in the conservation and restoration of
aquatic systems;
(f) implementing laws under their purview in a manner that
will conserve, restore, and. enhance aquatic systems that support
recreational fisheries;
(g) establishing cost-share. programs, under existing
authorities, that match or exceed Federal funds with nonfederal
contributions;
(h) evaluating-the effects of Federally funded, permitted,
or authorized actions on aquatic systems and recreational
fisheries and document those effects relative to the purpose of
this order; and
(i) assisting private landowners to conserve and enhance
aquatic resources on their lands.
Sec. 2. National Recreational Fisheries Coordination Council. A,
National Recreational Fisheries Coordination Council
("Coordination Council") is hereby established. The Coordination
Council shall consist of seven members, one member designated by
each of the following Secretaries-Interior, Commerce,
Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, and Defense-and one by the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The
Coordination Council shall: (a) ensure that the social and
economic values of healthy aquatic systems that support
recreational fisheries are considered by Federal agencies in the
course of their actions;
(b) reduce duplicative and cost-inefficient programs among
Federal agencies involved in conserving or managing recreational
fisheries;
(c) share the latest resource information and management
technologies to assist in the conservation and management of
recreational fisheries;
(d) assess the implementation of the Conservation Plan
required under section 3 of this order; and
(e) develop a biennial report of accomplishments of the
Conservation Plan.
The representatives designated by the Secretaries of Commerce and
the Interior shall cochair the Coordination Council.
Sec. 3. Recreational Fishery Resources Conservation Plan. (a)
Within 12 months of the date of this. order, the Coordination
Council, in cooperation with Federal agencies, States, and
Tribes, and after consulting with the Federally chartered Sport
Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, shall develop a
comprehensive Recreational Fishery Resources Conservation Plan
("Conservation Plan").
(b) The Conservation Plan will set forth a 5-year agenda
for Federal agencies identified by the Coordination Council. In
so doing, the Conservation Plan will. establish, to the extent
permitted by law and where practicable; (1) measurable objectives
to conserve and restore aquatic systems that support viable and
healthy recreational fishery resources, (2). actions to be taken
by the identified Federal agencies, (3) a method of ensuring the
accountability of such Federal agencies, and (4) a comprehensive
mechanism to evaluate achievements. The Conservation Plan will,
to the extent practicable, be integrated with existing plans and
programs, reduce duplication, and will include recommended
actions for cooperation. with States, Tribes, conservation
groups, and the recreational fisheries community.
Sec. 4. Joint Policy for Administering the Endangered Species Act
of 1973. All Federal agencies will aggressively work to identify
and minimize conflicts between recreational fisheries and their
respective responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act of
1973 ("ESA") (16 U.S.C. 1531- et seq.). Within 6 months of the
date of this order, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the
National Marine Fisheries Service will promote compatibility and
reduce conflicts between the administration of the ESA and
recreational fisheries by developing a joint agency policy that
will; (1) ensure consistency in the administration of the ESA
between and within the two agencies, (2) promote collaboration
with other Federal, State, and Tribal fisheries managers, and (3)
improve and increase efforts to inform nonfederal entities of the
requirements of the ESA.,
Sec. 5. Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council. To assist
in the implementation of this order, the Secretary of the
Interior shall expand the role of the Sport Fishing and Boating
Partnership Council to: (a) monitor specific Federal activities
affecting aquatic systems. and the recreational fisheries they
support;
(b) review and evaluate the relation of Federal policies
and activities to the status and conditions of recreational
fishery resources; and
(c) prepare an annual report of its activities, findings,
and recommendations for submission to the Coordination Council.
Sec. 6. judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve
the internal management of the executive branch and it is not
intended to create any right, benefit or trust responsibility,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a
party against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or
any other person.
///signed///
William J. Clinton
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 7, 1995.
[FR Doc. 95-14407
Filed 6-8-95; 10:50 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P