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comprehensive data base to serve as a foundation for a permanent 

 regime that would go into effect October 1, 1993. 



I am sorry to report that neither of these obligations have 

 been completely fulfilled. Although we support making 

 corrections during this the final year of the exemption to 

 improve the information that is gathered, we vigorously oppose 

 any efforts to use this lack of complete information to leverage 

 an extension of the current exemption for commercial fisheries 

 from the moratorium on takings under the MMPA. 



We need to accept the fact that mistakes were made on all 

 sides, obligations were not fulfilled and that is unfortunate. 

 Let us not forget that giving additional time to NMFS does not 

 always bring us additional results. Getting past this stage of 

 frustration, the following questions emerge; Where do we go? 

 What do we do? How do we pay for it? Since negotiations are 

 still ongoing with the fishing industry, we do not have a 

 specific program to talk about today. However, without going 

 into detail on substance or money, I can lay out for you broad 

 priorities for the package and a rough estimate of the overall 

 expected price tag for full implementation of a new regime. We 

 realize that determining the cost of the program before agreeing 

 to the details is like putting the "cart before the horse" but 

 the appropriations process has started so we are left with little 

 choice. We are also committed to achieving enactment of a new 

 program by October 1, 1993 if at all possible. 



