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taking, non-lethal or lethal, of threatened or endangered species 

 of marine mammals. 



Zero Mortality Rate Goal 



The proposed regime contains provisions to reduce taking of 

 marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations, 

 consistent with section 101(a)(2) of the MMPA and the 

 recommendations of the Marine Mammal Commission to reduce 

 mortality and serious injury to insignificant levels approaching 

 a rate of zero. Under the proposed regime, the major objective 

 of research efforts would eventually shift from assessing 

 populations and determining impact of incidental removals on 

 population status to efforts designed to reduce mortality 

 incidental to fishing operations as our knowledge increases. 

 However, when critical problems are identified, these would be 

 addressed in a timely manner. For example, NMFS is planning a 

 workshop in fiscal year 1993 to identify viable options to reduce 

 mortality of harbor porpoise incidental to commercial fishing in 

 the Gulf of Maine, and we have funded a study to investigate 

 acoustic deterrence of harbor porpoise from gillnets. 



In summary, our proposed regime to govern interactions 

 between marine mammals and commercial fishing operation would 

 provide a framework to fulfill the objectives of the MMPA with 

 minimal restriction on commercial fishing operations subject to 

 U.S. jurisdiction. The proposed regime would provide a 



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