33 



ideas about how we might look at paying for the additional cost of 

 these kinds of programs which I think are good ideas? 



Mr. Gutting. There are thousands and thousands of vessels so, 

 obviously, you can't observe every vessel. I think the key here is 

 prioritizing and identifying certain areas and so you don't waste 

 your money by putting observers out where they are not needed. 

 The easiest way of saving money is setting priorities and targeting 

 your resources. There are currently resources in the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service. There are observer programs. So some of 

 the resources are already there. We believe on the East Coast that 

 moneys were set in the budget for observer programs. The current 

 Administration — excuse me, Mr. Chairman — it is the current Ad- 

 ministration, is asking that these moneys be taken out of the 

 budget, and we object to that. We believe that if we maintain the 

 current level and prioritize better, we might be able to meet most 

 of our needs. 



Mr. Saxton. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Gut- 

 ting. If I have time 



Mr. Leape. I would just like to add on to Mr. Gutting's response. 

 First of all, we welcome his willingness to accept more observers on 

 their boats, but we have an alternative suggestion for how to pay 

 for them. We feel that in these days of declining Federal dollars 

 they need to be spent more effectively. We feel that the most effec- 

 tive use of Federal funds is for biological assessment and technolog- 

 ical research and development. Therefore, we feel that the fisheries 

 should pay more of the costs of observers through fees and other 

 mechanisms that I have set out in my statement and would encour- 

 age this committee as they go forward to take a look at those be- 

 cause we too believe that we need to see increased observer cover- 

 age and less reliance on logbooks to determine the data out there. 

 Thank you. 



Mr. Saxton. Thank you. 



Mr. Studds. I thank the gentleman. Well, obviously, we have our 

 work cut out for us. We have the ultimate deadline of September 

 30, and we have to have a draft bill soon, and to the extent that 

 you can all help us reach consensus, the procedure will be a good 

 deal less contentious. We will have to have one more hearing, obvi- 

 ously, after we introduce a bill. Between now and that time, to the 

 extent to which any of you can participate in forging further con- 

 sensuses or consensi — whatever it is, it would be very much appre- 

 ciated because we don't like contentiousness. I thank you all very 

 much, especially those of you who have traveled from a long way, 

 and the subcommittee stands adjourned. 



[Whereupon, at 11:46 a.m., the subcommittee was adjourned, and 

 the following was submitted for the record:] 



