[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 23 (Monday, June 12, 1995)]
[Pages 995-997]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 12962--Recreational Fisheries

June 7, 1995

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, and in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-d, and e-
j), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-666c), the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and 
the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801-
1882), and other pertinent statutes, and in order to conserve, restore, 
and enhance aquatic systems to provide for increased recreational 
fishing opportunities nationwide, it is ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Federal Agency Duties. Federal agencies shall, to the 
extent permitted by law and where practicable, and in cooperation with 
States and Tribes, improve the quantity, function, sustainable 
productivity, and distribution of U.S. aquatic resources for increased 
recreational fishing opportunities by: (a) developing and encouraging 
partnerships between governments and the private sector to advance 
aquatic resource conservation and enhance recreational fishing 
opportunities;
     (b) identifying recreational fishing opportunities that are limited 
by water quality and habitat degradation and promoting restoration to 
support viable, healthy, and, where feasible, self-sustaining 
recreational fisheries;
     (c) fostering sound aquatic conservation and restoration endeavors 
to benefit recreational fisheries;
     (d) providing access to and promoting awareness of opportunities 
for public participation and enjoyment of U.S. recreational fishery 
resources;
     (e) supporting outreach programs designed to stimulate angler 
participation in the conservation and restoration of aquatic systems;
     (f) implementing laws under their purview in a manner that will 
conserve, restore, and

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enhance aquatic systems that support recreational fisheries;
     (g) establishing cost-share programs, under existing authorities, 
that match or exceed Federal funds with nonfederal contributions;
     (h) evaluating the effects of Federally funded, permitted, or 
authorized actions on aquatic systems and recreational fisheries and 
document those effects relative to the purpose of this order; and
     (i) assisting private landowners to conserve and enhance aquatic 
resources on their lands.
    Sec. 2. National Recreational Fisheries Coordination Council. A 
National Recreational Fisheries Coordination Council (``Coordination 
Council'') is hereby established. The Coordination Council shall consist 
of seven members, one member designated by each of the following 
Secretaries--Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, 
and Defense--and one by the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency. The Coordination Council shall: (a) ensure that the 
social and economic values of healthy aquatic systems that support 
recreational fisheries are considered by Federal agencies in the course 
of their actions;
    (b) reduce duplicative and cost-inefficient programs among Federal 
agencies involved in conserving or managing recreational fisheries;
    (c) share the latest resource information and management 
technologies to assist in the conservation and management of 
recreational fisheries;
    (d) assess the implementation of the Conservation Plan required 
under section 3 of this order; and
    (e) develop a biennial report of accomplishments of the Conservation 
Plan.
    The representatives designated by the Secretaries of Commerce and 
the Interior shall cochair the Coordination Council.
    Sec. 3. Recreational Fishery Resources Conservation Plan. (a) Within 
12 months of the date of this order, the Coordination Council, in 
cooperation with Federal agencies, States, and Tribes, and after 
consulting with the Federally chartered Sport Fishing and Boating 
Partnership Council, shall develop a comprehensive Recreational Fishery 
Resources Conservation Plan (``Conservation Plan'').
    (b) The Conservation Plan will set forth a 5-year agenda for Federal 
agencies identified by the Coordination Council. In so doing, the 
Conservation Plan will establish, to the extent permitted by law and 
where practicable: (1) measurable objectives to conserve and restore 
aquatic systems that support viable and healthy recreational fishery 
resources, (2) actions to be taken by the identified Federal agencies, 
(3) a method of ensuring the accountability of such Federal agencies, 
and (4) a comprehensive mechanism to evaluate achievements. The 
Conservation Plan will, to the extent practicable, be integrated with 
existing plans and programs, reduce duplication, and will include 
recommended actions for cooperation with States, Tribes, conservation 
groups, and the recreational fisheries community.
    Sec. 4. Joint Policy for Administering the Endangered Species Act of 
1973. All Federal agencies will aggressively work to identify and 
minimize conflicts between recreational fisheries and their respective 
responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (``ESA'') (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Within 6 months of the date of this order, the 
Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service will 
promote compatibility and reduce conflicts between the administration of 
the ESA and recreational fisheries by developing a joint agency policy 
that will: (1) ensure consistency in the administration of the ESA 
between and within the two agencies, (2) promote collaboration with 
other Federal, State, and Tribal fisheries managers, and (3) improve and 
increase efforts to inform nonfederal entities of the requirements of 
the ESA.
    Sec. 5. Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council. To assist in 
the implementation of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
expand the role of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council to: 
(a) monitor specific Federal activities affecting aquatic systems and 
the recreational fisheries they support;
     (b) review and evaluate the relation of Federal policies and 
activities to the status and conditions of recreational fishery 
resources; and

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     (c) prepare an annual report of its activities, findings, and 
recommendations for submission to the Coordination Council.
    Sec. 6. Judicial Review. This order is intended only to improve the 
internal management of the executive branch and it is not intended to 
create any right, benefit or trust responsibility, substantive or 
procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a party against the United 
States, its agencies, its officers, or any other person.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
June 7, 1995.

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 10:50 a.m., June 8, 
1995]

Note: This Executive order was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on June 8, and it was published in the Federal Register  on 
June 9.