ASMFC Finalizes Guidelines for Evaluating Fishing Gear Impacts to Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) provides important habitat for critical life history stages of many fish species. Of the 24 species managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC or Commission), over half of them derive benefits from association with SAV (Laney 1997), such as shelter, increased availability of prey or food items, and spawning substrate. In order to provide for the conservation of this important habitat, the Commission adopted a Policy in 1997 with the goal of preserving SAV, and ultimately achieving a net gain in SAV habitat along the Atlantic coast. Many natural and human-induced forces can adversely impact SAV. For example, one of the most serious threats to SAV is reduction in water clarity, which can result from excess nutrient inputs to estuarine waters. In its SAV policy, the Commission recognizes that most of the agencies that represent Commission member states do not have authority to regulate habitat protec-tion; rather the focus of Commission member agencies is fisheries management. The policy is designed to overcome this limitation by encouraging collaboration between state habitat and fisheries management agencies in order to further protection of SAV