since direct conflicts are less complex and easier to 

 define, higher priority should presently be afforded to 

 research on direct conflicts rather than on indirect conflicts; 

 (4) ongoing efforts to determine and document the extent and 

 nature of impacts should be continued and expanded to 

 identify and evaluate possible methods and techniques for 

 mitigating these impacts on both the fisheries and the 

 marine mammal populations involved; and (5) when remedial 

 measures are found to be necessary, first consideration 

 should be given to non-lethal methods. 



On the basis of these recommendations, the Commission 

 concluded that ongoing research by the Washington Department 

 of Game should be augmented to expedite identification and 

 evaluation of possible mitigation measures. By letter of 7 

 June 1982, the Commission advised the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service of its conclusion on the need to support 

 additional work on mitigation measures and offered to make 

 Commission funds available for that purpose. The Commission 

 noted that it felt that present information was inadequate 

 to determine what methods or technologies merited such 

 evaluation or how the evaluation might best be accomplished. 

 The Commission suggested that, before a major investment was 

 made, it would be desirable to develop a comprehensive 

 program plan and to design and initiate a small-scale study 

 to identify the most effective and appropriate methods and 

 technologies for mitigating marine mammal-fisheries conflicts. 



On 27 August 1982, funds were transferred to the 

 Service to support development of a research and studies 

 plan to identify the most effective methods for mitigating 

 marine mammal-fisheries conflicts in the Columbia River (see 

 Chapter II, Research and Studies Program). The work will be 

 carried out by researchers from the Washington Department of 

 Game as part of its fourth year of work under the Columbia 

 River Project. The plan is expected to be completed early 

 in 1983. 



In December 1982, the Washington Department of Game 

 circulated for comment its draft third-year report on 

 marine mammal-fisheries interactions in the Columbia River 

 and adjacent waters. The Commission, in consultation with 

 its Committee of Scientific Advisors, is reviewing the draft 

 document and will provide comments, as appropriate, early in 

 1983. 



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