"To explore options for developing habitat conservation objectives, NOAA hosted a symposium on the NOAA Habitat Blueprint at the 142nd Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) on August 22nd, 2012, in St. Paul, Minnesota. The symposium featured presentations on the key approaches of the Blueprint, starting with an overview presentation by Sam Rauch, Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries in NMFS. The symposium also included a session scoping approaches for more effectively applying existing habitat conservation authorities to achieve sustainable fishery outcomes. The goal of the scoping session was to identify options and opportunities for NMFS to work with the regional fishery management councils to develop habitat conservation objectives, to use habitat conservation objectives to more effectively achieve desired outcomes for fisheries, and to target habitat conservation activities towards achieving the habitat conservation objectives"--Page 2.

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)