COMMUNITY INPUT REQUESTED

The Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) is a Congressionally-chartered advisory committee to NOAA whose objective is to ensure that the Nation's living marine resource policies and programs meet the needs of commercial and recreational fishermen, and of environmental, consumer, academic, tribal, governmental, and other national interests. NOAA Fisheries Service has asked MAFAC to prepare a stakeholders' prospectus on the desired future state of domestic and international fisheries.

To meet this request, MAFAC members have prepared a draft document, "Vision 2020: The Future of U.S. Marine Fisheries" (http://www.fish2020.org), which describes trends, their potential impact on marine fisheries, and a series of recommendations for NOAA. This report contains the views of MAFAC members who represent a wide range of expertise, including but not limited to, commercial and recreational fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing, seafood marketing and sales, coastal communities, and environmental advocacy. MAFAC's major findings have been grouped into four theme areas: commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries, fisheries management, and aquaculture. For each theme, MAFAC seeks to identify: (1) the strongest influences on the future of fisheries; (2) a desired outcome; (3) a recommended course of action; (4) critical success factors; and (5) necessary resources.

At this time, MAFAC is seeking additional stakeholder perspective on these issues. A series of trigger questions have been posted online to focus public comments. Please send in your comments by November 24, 2007. Your help in distributing and/or responding to this request for comments would be appreciated. For more information, please visit http://www.fish2020.org.