for example, the four agencies sponsored a three-day training 

 seminar for Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service inspec- 

 tors to advise them of their duties and responsibilities with 

 regard to marine mammals and how best to meet them. 



The Commission also occasionally becomes involved in on- 

 site inspections of marine mammal facilities. On 4 October 

 1985, representatives of the Commission's Committee of Scien- 

 tific Advisors and the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 assisted the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in an 

 on-site review of a public display facility with a history of 

 problems in complying with the Standards for the Humane Hand- 

 ling, Care, Treatment and Transportation of Marine Mammals. 

 The interagency team's findings were transmitted to the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture's Office of General Counsel, for action. 

 On 7 July 1986, the Department of Agriculture filed a complaint 

 against the facility seeking a cease and desist order for 

 violations of the Standards, civil penalties, and suspension 

 or revocation of the facility's license. The facility answered 

 the complaint on 24 July 1986, denying the actionable allega- 

 tions. A consent order in this matter was issued on 24 July 

 1987. Under the terms of that order, the facility was assessed 

 a $5,000 civil penalty and was required to make certain improve- 

 ments in its structures and practices. Additionally, the 

 facility's operating license was suspended for 60 days and 

 thereafter until it demonstrated compliance with the Animal 

 Welfare Act and the applicable regulations and standards. 



The Commission has convened a Working Group to address the 

 biological, behavioral, legal, and administrative problems 

 associated with captive reproduction, birth rate control in 

 captive populations, introduction of beached/stranded animals 

 into captive populations, and the release of captive-born 

 animals to the wild. The Working Group was directed to collect 

 relevant data and information, identify and address behavioral 

 and biological issues, analyze related legal questions, and 

 suggest needed research, as well as desirable statutory, 

 regulatory, and administrative changes. Participants in the 

 Working Group include members of the Commission's staff and 

 the Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals. When 

 completed, a draft report based on the data collected will be 

 provided to other government agencies and interested parties 

 for review. 



In 1987, the Commission staff's, utilizing data obtained 

 from the National Marine Fisheries Service, completed an 

 analysis of survival patterns of three species of cetaceans 

 in captivity (bottlenose dolphins, white or beluga whales, 

 and killer whales) . The purpose of the study was to estimate 

 the average annual survival rate for each species to determine 

 whether survival rates are significantly different in different 

 institutions and to compare findings with the literature on 



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