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Position Paper: Conserving Federally Threatened, Endangered, and Proposed Species While Providing and Enhancing Recreational Fisheries Programs Executive Summary: This paper identifies a list of actions and guiding principles that will enable stakeholders to work more effectively together to conserve and restore aquatic species listed or proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), while continuing to provide and enhance recreational fisheries. Issues involving non-listed and candidate species are not discussed in this paper, but could benefit from further dialogue among stakeholders. Actions recommended in this paper are based on principles that acknowledge: 1) the irreplaceable intrinsic and ecological value of all indigenous species; 2) States have primary management responsibility for non-listed and candidate aquatic species; 3) the preeminence of the ESA in issues effecting conservation and recovery of fisted or proposed species; 4) the nationally B important societal and economic value of recreational fisheries programs; and 5) the necessity of effective partnerships between stakeholders to achieve mutual goals. Actions called for are designed to increase interagency cooperation on issues pertinent to ESA species conservationlrecovery and recreational fisheries; to reduce the potential for conflict between varying interests; to establish partnerships among vested interests; and to evaluate effectiveness of B resource conservation efforts and fisheries enhancement programs and make necessary adjustments. Finally, this paper encourages the Federal Government to reach out to the States, Tribes, and the recreational fisheries and boating community and demonstrate its willingness to find solutions to avoid conflicts while implementing the ESA. Position Statement: 4 We are committed to conserve Federally threatened, endangered, and proposed species while providing and enhancing recreational fishery resources and fishing opportunities. Background: . Fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems are integral components of our national heritage. Most importantly, aquatic resources are essential and irreplaceable parts of most ecosystems. Fishery resources play an important role in our Nation's social, cultural, and economic well-being. Annually, approximately 50 million anglers spend $24 billion on tackle, equipment, food and lodging, and other fishing-related expenditures. These expenditures generate over $2.1 billion in Federal income tax revenue and provide employment for 1.3 million people (Sport Fishing 4 Institute, 1994). Although significant effort has been directed toward the conservation and enhancement of aquatic resources, many fishery resources are severely stressed. In 1989, 364 species and subspecies of fish in North America were characterized as being in need of special management considerations (Williams et al., 1989). This represents an increase of 139 taxa over the past decade. As of APPENDIX B