Animal Welfare Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act has 
facilitated coordinated administration and enforcement of 
the provisions of the two Acts, ensured uniformity, and 
avoided duplication of effort relating to the maintenance of 
Marine mammals in captivity. 
During 1980, representatives of the Commission consulted 
with representatives of the three other agencies concerning 
the implementation of the Standards and, on 19 November 
1980, met with representatives of the agencies to consider 
the experience with and the need for changes in the Standards. 
On 30 December 1980, the Commission wrote to the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service suggesting that certain 
changes in the Standards concerning the average adult size 
of animals, the required haul-out area, and a mechanism for 
dealing with animals maintained in isolation appear to be 
warranted and could be developed relatively quickly with the 
help of knowledgeable individuals. The Commission noted 
that it was important that the government move as quickly as 
possible to develop and propose such changes, several of 
which would relax the requirements of the Standards, so that 
affected persons have an opportunity to comment and so that 
the affected facilities have an opportunity to adjust any 
plans for modification well before the expiration of the 
variance period in the fall of 1982. For this purpose, the 
Commission recommended that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service convene a working group of representatives 
of the involved agencies and knowledgeable individuals to 
attempt to develop appropriate proposals to resolve those 
issues. The Commission noted that such a working group 
would provide an efficient and effective means of dealing 
with the issues and suggested that it be convened in mid- 
February 1981. 
The Commission will participate in the meeting of the 
working group and continue to consult and cooperate with the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as well as the 
National Marine Fisheries Service and Fish and Wildlife 
Service during 1981 concerning the implementation of the 
Standards and Regulations. 
= Fe 
