76 



The mortality represented in this uble is not refiected in the species or stock mortality 

 estimates, and as such is another indicator of underestimates. Detailed analyses of 

 interactions by fishery and by marine mammal stocks are set out in Chapters II and III of this 

 report. 



Finally, the observer- gathered data did not include information on the nature of the 

 interactions, that is, how they occurred in the course of fishing operations, in order to 

 discover gear or operational improvements. Nor did the program ever develop alternatives to 

 onboard observation as a means of verifying data from logbooks in fisheries where vessel size 

 or other factors prevented use of observers. 



Whatever its shortcomings, the MMEP has illustrated that substantial amounts of 

 information can be garnered with a combination of voluntary reporting and formal observers. 

 The above analysis indicates as well, that many of the problems with the process and data 

 base are of manageable proportions and could be rectified administratively prior to a 

 legislative incidental take regime. Finally, the MMEP has enabled us to identify those 



12 



