6.5 State Conservation Partners
and can be used to produce reports about rare species, high-quality natural communities, and areas managed for conservation. Written reports, including rare plant and animal lists, are also available from the NCNHP website (http://www.ncnhp.org/). Key programs and resources that support conservation priorities are summarized in Appendix M (page 1248). 6.5.4 NC Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) NCDMF is dedicated to ensuring sustainable marine and estuarine fsheries and habitats for the beneft and health of the people of North Carolina. Te NCDMF jurisdiction encom- passes all coastal waters and extends to 3 miles ofshore. NCDMF is a part of NCDENR and is composed of nine sections that collectively carry out this mandate. Agency policies are established by the ninemember Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) and the Secretary of NCDENR. North Carolina is a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Key components of the DMF mission include:
• Enforcing marine fsheries statutes and rules fairly and consistently,
• Ensuring healthy, sustainable marine and estuarine fsheries and habitats through management decisions based on sound data and objective analyses, and
• Monitoring and evaluating coastal waters for the safe harvest of molluscan shellfsh and recreational uses to safeguard the public health of shellfsh consumers and recreational bathers. Te NC General Assembly charged NCDENR to develop, adopt, and implement plans and strategies to protect and restore fsheries habitats (see NCGS 143B) . Te plans are to be drafted by the agencies responsible for managing fsheries, water quality, and coastal management, with DMF as the lead agency for development of the plans. Tese strategies and support- ing scientifc background information are reported in the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan (CHPP), which is organized across six key estuarine and marine fsheries habitats. Each Chapter includes a characterization of the habitat, its distribution, fsh use, ecological ben- efts, status, trends, and threats, as well as management and research needs. CHPP is reviewed and approved by the CHPP Steering Committee, which consists of two members of the Environmental Management Commission, Coastal Resources Commission, and MFC. After the CHPP Steering Committee approves of the plan, each associated full commission has the opportunity to review and approve. Te CHPP Steering Committee also meets regularly to enhance communication and discussion of cross-cutting and emerging coastal habitat issues, review the CHPP biennial imple- mentation plans, and discuss progress on implementation actions. Te plan was initially
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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