47 



observer records, both sets of records were examined to determine 

 the source of the discrepancy. 



NMFS initiated research to assess marine mammal population 

 stocks in fiscal year 1991. From 1991 to 1993, NMFS funded 26 

 research projects. Research objectives for 17 of these projects 

 were to provide or refine estimates of minimum abundance for 

 those marine mammal stocks that interact with commercial fishing 

 in U.S. waters. The other 9 projects were conducted to augment 

 minimum abundance estimates in determining the impact of fishery- 

 related mortality on marine mammal populations or to investigate 

 methods for reducing the number of mortalities. 



REPLACING THE INTERIM EXEMPTION 



Our most pressing challenge under the MMPA is replacing the 

 interim exemption program with a management regime that would 

 provide for the conservation of all marine mammal stocks, while 

 allowing for the continued use of our Nation's important fishery 

 resources. NMFS has prepared a proposal to fulfill this 

 objective. This plan would (1) allow marine mammal stocks to 

 equilibrate within their OSP, (2) allow commercial fishing to 

 continue, (3) focus agency resources on marine mammal stocks 

 affected most by commercial fishing, (4) allow takings from some, 

 but not all, depleted, threatened, and endangered stocks, 

 (5) monitor fishing operations to ensure that removals of marine 

 mammals remain within specified limits, (6) assess the status of 



