POLICY 9     EXPAND RECREATIONAL USE OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES IN COASTAL AREAS BY INCREASING ACCESS TO EXISTING RESOURCES, SUPPLEMENTING EXISTING STOCKS, AND DEVELOPING NEW RESOURCES.

Explanation of Policy

Recreational uses of coastal fish and wildlife resources include consumptive uses such as fishing and hunting, and non-consumptive uses such as wildlife photography, bird watching and nature study.

Any efforts to increase recreational use of these resources will be made in a manner which ensures the protection of fish and wildlife resources in marine and freshwater coastal areas and which takes into consideration other activities dependent on these resources. Also, such efforts must be done in accordance with existing State law and in keeping with sound management considerations. Such considerations include biology of the species, carrying capacity of the resources, public demand, costs and available technology.

The following additional guidelines should be considered by State and Federal agencies as they determine the consistency of their proposed action with the above policy:

1.         Consideration should be made by Federal and State agencies as to whether an action will impede existing or future utilization of the State's recreational fish and wildlife resources.

2.         Efforts to increase access to recreational fish and wildlife resources should not lead to over-utilization of that resource or cause impairment of the habitat. Sometimes such impairment can be more subtle than actual physical damage to the habitat. For example, increased human presence can deter animals from using the habitat area.

3.         The impacts of increasing access to recreational fish and wildlife resources should be determined on a case-by-case basis, consulting the significant habitat narrative (see Policy 7) and/or conferring with a trained fish and wildlife biologist.

4.         Any public or private sector initiatives to supplement existing stocks (e.g., stocking a stream with fish reared in a hatchery) or develop new resources (e.g., creating private fee-hunting or fee-fishing facilities) must be done in accord with existing State law.