Figure 14. Core principles for an ISO 14000 series voluntary environmental management system (VEMS). “Environmental policy is defined as the ‘statement by the organization of its intentions and principles in relation to its overall environmental performances which provides a framework for action and for the setting of its environmental objectives and targets’” (von Zharen, 1999, p. 12). For this manuscript, marine fisheries is the focus with a related “environmental policy” articulated to the National Standards listed and described in the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 Public Law 104-297 (see Table 7). Themes expressed also pertain to international fisheries related “voluntary” and negotiated agreements and treaties.