80 



The period of the Interim Exemption has generated informauon on levels of take in 

 commercial fisheries and population abundance estimates for numerous species of marine 

 mammals. Over the same period we also have learned more about the nature of interactions- 

 how and why they occur. This information should be used to craft a regime that focuses 

 limited resources first on reducing takes of any type from marine mammal populations where 

 those takes are considered unsustainable. 



Finally, we should begin laying the stage now for gathering environmental and cross- 

 cutting resource information that will enable us to move toward the larger ecosystem 

 management goals that the MMPA embraces. For example, it is important to have a means 

 to examine and compare mortality from a variety of causes so cumulative impacts and the 

 array of human caused interactions can be evaluated. This includes not only direct mortality 

 such as that caused by vessel collisions, but also indirect impacts such as reduction of marine 

 mammal prey species. While it is important to continue to control the incidental take of 

 individual species to promote their own conservation, it also is time to take a look at the big 

 picture. The various laws that control the utilization of marine resources need to be brought 

 together and administered under the common goal of ensuring the long-term protection of the 

 quality of the marine environment The MMPA reauthorization offers an opportunity to begin 

 that difficult and challenging task. It could set in motion the events needed to establish a 

 truly comprehensive management program for protecting the complex ecological relationships 

 that, taken together, determine the health, stability and productivity of the marine 



17 



