24 



Normally we apply the red light system to the members of the 

 Committee in the question period, but I do not see any overwhelm- 

 ing necessity to do that now, since there is only one of us. I promise 

 not to hold you captive indefinitely. I also promise to keep my 

 promise of several months standing, to allow a couple of you to ask 

 a couple of others of you some questions on your own. 



First, let me just think out loud for a moment. These will prob- 

 ably come in no particular sequence, so do not look for a logical 

 sequence of questioning. 



You caught my attention, Mr. Shelley, a moment ago when you 

 were speaking of the implementation of the right whale recovery 

 plan. Who is responsible for that? Is that you, NMFS? 



Mr. Shelley. Yes. 



Mr. Studds. ok. What is the matter with it? What is it and why 

 isn't it happening? 



Mr. BiGFORD. I do not think there is anything wrong with the 

 plan itself. It is a couple of years old and could probably use a little 

 bit of tinkering to make sure that the recommendations are as up- 

 to-date as possible. 



Mr. Studds. Could you give us a concise summary of what its rec- 

 ommendations are? 



Mr. BiGFORD. There are dozens and dozens of recommendations 

 in it, including everything from research to management of the 

 stocks and monitoring. It is a very complex listing of specific rec- 

 ommendations involving all of the Federal agencies that have a 

 stake in managing resources — all of the agencies that would nor- 

 mally consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service. 



Mr. Studds. Are any of those recommendations generally being 

 carried out? 



Mr. BiGFORD. Some of them are being carried out. The biggest 

 problem other than just plain time (it is the typical bureaucratic 

 response) is the resources are not there to conduct the research 

 that is pointed out, to conduct the monitoring, to work with the 

 various groups. It is a resources issue. It is a typical problem of in- 

 sufficient resources to conduct the recommendations. 



Mr. Studds. I understand that, because I spend too much time in 

 Washington. Is the English translation of that that we have not got 

 any money, so we have not started yet? 



Mr. BiGFORD. No. It is we do not have enough money to do any- 

 thing faster than we have. We have started. 



Mr. Studds. We have. 



Mr. BiGFORD. We are not proceeding as quickly as we would like 

 to. 



Mr. Studds. Let me ask you and also either Mr. Kraus or Dr. 

 Mayo, what is the status of the monitoring, pursuant to the recom- 

 mendations in that recovery plan? Is it underway? 



Mr. BiGFORD. There is a lot of different monitoring. 



Mr. Kraus. There is no money for monitoring at this time. 



Mr. Studds. There is, therefore, no monitoring at this time? 



Mr. Kraus. What has been done has been done on our own 

 ticket. 



Mr. BiGFORD. Right, but it relates to the recovery plan. 



Mr. Studds. OK. 



