Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior to authorize the taking of small numbers of 

 marine mammals incidental to activities other than commercial fishing, when the taking 

 would have negligible impacts and certain other conditions are met. 



The Marine Mammal Protection Act directs that the Marine Mammal Commission 

 undertake, or cause to be undertaken, such studies as it considers necessary or desirable 

 to effect the protection and conservation of marine mammals. Actions taken by the 

 Commission in 1991 in response to this directive are described in Chapter IX. Reports 

 and other publications resulting from research and studies supported by the Commission 

 in previous years are listed in Appendices B and C. 



Chapter X discusses the process for issuing permits to take marine mammals for 

 scientific research, public display, and species enhancement. Chapter XI discusses 

 regulations governing the care and maintenance of marine mammals in captivity. During 

 1991, the National Marine Fisheries Service continued to review its permitting system 

 and expects to publish proposed revisions to its existing permit regulations in 1992. In 

 1991, the Commission called upon the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service to review and, as 

 necessary, revise the Standards and Regulations for the Humane Handling, Care, 

 Treatment, and Transportation of Marine Mammals. To begin the process, the 

 Commission provided the Services with a detailed discussion paper to serve as a base 

 document for the review. 



Three Appendices follow the body of this Report. Appendix A summarizes 

 recommendations made by the Commission in 1991; Appendix B lists reports published 

 by the National Technical Information Service on Commission-supported studies and 

 activities; and Appendix C lists other reports and papers based upon Commission- 

 supported studies and activities that have been published elsewhere. 



