marine mammals in isolation. The Commission expressed its belief 

 that maintenance of captive marine mammals in isolation is 

 inappropriate except for purposes of medical treatment or on a 

 temporary basis in other special situations, as determined 

 necessary by an attending veterinarian. The Service did not 

 respond to the Commission's 15 April 1988 letter. On 17 February 

 1989, the Commission wrote to the Service regarding a report that 

 a manatee was being held in captivity in violation of the 

 Service's Standards. In its letter, the Commission requested 

 that the Service advise it of the status of the investigation 

 recommended in the Commission's 15 April letter. 



On 9 March 1989, the Service responded to the Commission, 

 noting that it was investigating alleged violations of the 

 Standards. The Service also noted that a field survey of 

 facilities had been conducted, but that the results had not yet 

 been compiled and reviewed. By letter of 2 May 1989, the 

 Commission advised the Service that it was looking forward to 

 receipt of the field survey report identifying facilities 

 maintaining marine mammals in isolation. At the end of 1989, the 

 Commission had not yet received the report of the field survey. 



On 18 October 1988, the Commission wrote to the Animal and 

 Plant Health Inspection Service recommending that the Service, in 

 consultation with representatives of the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the environ- 

 mental community, the public display industry, the research 

 community, inspecting veterinarians from the Service's field 

 offices, and the Commission, define more clearly and, if 

 necessary, revise its existing regulations. The Commission noted 

 that such a review was necessary in order to: facilitate 

 compliance by public display and research facilities; assist 

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service officials in 

 conducting facility inspections; and improve the effectiveness 

 and fairness of the administration and enforcement of the 

 regulations. The Service did not respond to the Commission's 18 

 October letter and, in its 2 May 1989 letter, the Commission 

 again requested that the Service undertake such a review and 

 offered to help in any way possible. No response to the 

 Commission's letter had been received at the end of 1989. 

 However, during the National Marine Fisheries Service's 29 

 November 1989 permit review workshop on marine mammal care and 

 maintenance, representatives of the Animal and Plant Health 

 Inspection Service concurred that a review of its standards was 

 needed. 



The Commission also addressed the need to revise and augment 

 the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's marine mammal 

 care and maintenance standards in its 24 August 1989 comments on 

 the National Marine Fisheries Service's permit program discussion 

 paper. Among other things, the Commission recommended that the 

 Services consider: (1) clarifying and expanding the Standards 



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