MSA Sections Referencing Economic Analysis

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
16 U.S.C. §1801 et. seq.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND POLICY 16 U.S.C. 1801
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds and declares the following:
(3) Commercial and recreational fishing constitutes a major source of employment and
contributes significantly to the economy of the Nation. Many coastal areas are dependent upon
fishing and related activities, and their economies have been badly damaged by the overfishing
of fishery resources at an ever-increasing rate over the past decade. The activities of massive
foreign fishing fleets in waters adjacent to such coastal areas have contributed to such damage,
interfered with domestic fishing efforts, and caused destruction of the fishing gear of United
States fishermen.

16 U.S.C. §1851 (a(8))
SEC. 301. NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FISHERY 16 U.S.C. 1851 CONSERVATION
AND MANAGEMENT
(a) IN GENERAL.—Any fishery management plan prepared, and any regulation promulgated to
implement any such plan, pursuant to this title shall be consistent with the following national
standards for fishery conservation and management:
(8) Conservation and management measures shall, consistent with the conservation requirements
of this Act (including the prevention of overfishing and rebuilding of overfished stocks), take
into account the importance of fishery resources to fishing communities by utilizing economic
and social data that meet the requirements of paragraph (2), in order to (A) provide for the
sustained participation of such communities, and (B) to the extent practicable, minimize adverse
economic impacts on such communities.
16 U.S.C §1853 (a(9))
SEC. 303. CONTENTS OF FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANS 16 U.S.C. 1853
(a) REQUIRED PROVISIONS.—Any fishery management plan which is prepared by any
Council, or by the Secretary, with respect to any fishery, shall—
(9) include a fishery impact statement for the plan or amendment (in the case of a plan or
amendment thereto submitted to or prepared by the Secretary after October 1, 1990) which shall
assess, specify, and analyze the likely effects, if any, including the cumulative conservation,
economic, and social impacts, of the conservation and management measures on, and possible
mitigation measures for—
(A) participants in the fisheries and fishing communities affected by the plan or amendment;
(B) participants in the fisheries conducted in adjacent areas under the authority of another
Council, after consultation with such Council and representatives of those participants; and
(C) the safety of human life at sea, including whether and to what extent such measures may
affect the safety of participants in the fishery;