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MD 12, or Marine District 12, is a geographical area encompassing the waters of Washington State and Oregon's Pacific Coast from the mouth of the Columbia River south to the California border. The district is part of the larger U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the outermost zone of exclusive economic fishing rights that U.S. can exercise over the ocean.
Marine District 12 was created by the 1976 Fishery Management Plan, which regulates the harvesting and management of commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries in the United States' Pacific coast. The plan divides the Pacific Coast EEZ into 12 marine districts.
The main purpose of the plan is to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks in the district, and to prevent overfishing which can lead to depleted resources. The plan sets catch limits for areas, species, size and gear, as well as monitoring and enforcement of these regulations. It also sets minimum gear requirements and size limits. The plan also sets out licensing requirements for fishing vessels and fishing gear. In the event of Fish Stock Depletion, the plan outlines how fish stocks should be replenished and how fishing activities should be limited so that depleted stocks can recover.