MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION — Annual Report for 1991 



walruses and polar bears that may be taken or explain how the Service determined those numbers to be 

 "small"; and recommending, among other things, that the Service (1) initiate a rulemaking to amend its 

 definition of "small numbers"; (2) prepare a proposal for legislation to implement the International 

 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears and forward it to Congress as soon as possible; and (3) 

 as a matter of practice, publish notice of applications for letters of authorization and provide at least a 

 30-day public comment period. 



9 August Conmierce; commenting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on the need for reviews of the 



Hawaiian monk seal and tuna-porpoise programs; recommending that the reviews be held in October; 

 and forwarding copies of draft agendas for both reviews. 



9 Augiist Commerce; scientific research permit, Howard E. Winn and Richard O. Petricig. 



9 August Commerce; commenting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on Amendment 3 to the Fishery 



Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region; noting that the amendment does 

 not adequately address protection needs for Hawaiian monk seals; and recommending, among other 

 things, that the Service return the amendment to the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council to 

 add language to better protect monk seals from adverse interactions with fisheries. 



14 August Commerce; commenting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on the final draft paper "U.S. Policy 



Concerning Large Scale Pelagic Driftnets and Comments on the North Pacific Scientific Driftnet 

 Review Meeting Held in Sidney, British Columbia, on 11-13 June, 1991"; noting that the final draft 

 addresses concerns raised in previous Commission comments; and recommending certain changes to the 

 text regarding long-term marine resource management strategies. 



15 August Commerce; scientific research permit, Elizabeth A. Mathews. 



15 August Commerce; scientific research permit, Gerald L. Kooyman. 



16 August Interior; commenting to the Office of Environmental Affairs on a draft "Report to Congress on the 



Impact of Potential Crude-Oil Spills in the Arctic Ocean on Alaskan Natives"; noting, among other 

 things, that the report does not include all impact assessments requested by Congress, nor describe all 

 relevant provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act; and 

 recommending revisions to address the deficiencies. 



16 August Commerce; commenting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on a proposed rule to inclement 



Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region; 

 noting that the proposed rule indicates changes may be made by the Regional Director in the size of the 

 protected species zone in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and other protected species conservation 

 measures; and recommending that (1) the protected species zone include waters out to 100 nautical 

 miles; (2) waters within 50 nautical miles and between the islands be established as a no-fishing zone as 

 presently proposed; and (3) waters between 50 and 100 nautical miles be subject to a notification 

 requirement to allow the Service an opportunity to place observers aboard some boats fishing in that 

 area. 



16 August Commerce; commenting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on the effect on Hawaiian monk seals 



of derelict lightsticks used in the pelagic longline fishery; noting that disposal at sea of such items is 

 expressly prohibited under U.S. law; and recommending further steps to investigate and prevent the 

 discarding of lightsticks by fishermen at sea. 



19 August Commerce; scientific research permit. National Marine Fisheries Service. 



21 August Commerce; conraienting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on necropsy reports of one common 



dolphin and one long-finned pilot whale; noting that the Commission is unable to judge the validity of 

 conclusions regarding the causes of death from the information provided; and recommending that the 

 Service ask if more complete medical histories are available, and if not, that record keeping, necropsy, 

 and reporting requirements be reviewed to ensure that necessary data for determining cause of death of 

 captive marine mammal s are routinely compiled and reported. 



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