PREFACE This third status review of U.S. living marine resources (LMR's) updates and augments the 1992 Our Living Oceans document. It provides a scientific overview of the health of the Nation's marine fisheries as well as protected marine mammals and sea turtles. These national resources are under the stewardship of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a line office of the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This report synthesizes, for the public, results from extensive NMFS scientific programs aimed at evaluating and monitoring our living marine resources. The management of these resources is described, and important issues and recent progress are highlighted. As with the first two editions, it is the collective effort of NMFS staff from around the country that makes such a report possible (Appendices 1 and 2). FOREWORD Vice President Al Gore completed his report on the National Performance Review in September of 1993, shortly before I was appointed to head the National Marine Fisheries Service. One of the main conclusions of the Vice President's study, emphasized by President Bill Clinton at the signing of the Government Performance and Results Act, is that government agencies must evaluate and focus on the outputs of their work, rather than just the inputs. In effect, we need to measure how well we have done in achieving our goals. The National Performance Review also points out that Federal agencies need to work under strategic plans and link these plans to performance and results. This third annual report on the status of U.S. living marine resources is just such an evaluation of performance to accompany the NOAA and NMFS Strategic Plans. It gives an overview of the status of all our living marine resources and illustrates both successes and shortcomings in our stewardship of these resources for the Nation. This report highlights important problems which we, as managers, must face and deal with over the coming years. It highlights as well, the substantial progress we have made within just the past year. The National Marine Fisheries Service, with its origin as the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries in 1871, was this Nation's first environmental agency. In 1996 we will celebrate our 125th anniversary. We recognize and understand the problems we face. Our long history has given us the experience and expertise to make progress in resolving them. This report shows the many areas of resource management where we need to improve. We must reverse the overfishing trend, improve economic performance, and strengthen the conservation of protected species. As Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, I intend to focus on the Agency's performance in improving the management of our living marine resources through better understanding of the status of the resource, improved communications with the user community, and a streamlined and effective National Marine Fisheries Service. Our ultimate goal is to insure the greatest possible benefit for the Nation on a continuing basis. Rolland A. Schmitten Assistant Administrator for Fisheries National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration December 1993