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We support continued conunercial fishing as long as it does 

 not jeopardize the viability of marine mammal populations and 

 other fish species, continually reduces the impact on the habitat 

 on which these species depend and begins to pay for the privilege 

 of catching and selling a public resource. What does this mean 

 you ask? It means aggressively pursuing research to determine 

 the 



population status and health of the rest of the marine mammals 

 and fish species off our coasts. Of all the marine mammal 

 populations off our coasts, we are only sure of the status of one 

 quarter of them. Industry must play an important role in 

 assisting the federal government in filling in the current lack 

 of information on these species. 



In addition, we should focus on the status of mammals before 

 they are listed under the Endangered Species Act not waiting till 

 it happens. We must maintain the current protections afforded 

 under the Endangered Species Act for Endangered and Threatened 

 animals as a safety net for those species for whom preemptive 

 action is not successful. 



In order to maintain the integrity of the goal of the MMPA, 

 we need to develop a system, including incentives and penalties, 

 that will bring about continued reduction in takes where there 

 are significant takes of marine mammals and other species. For 

 this new program to work, we must see stronger partnerships 

 formed between the industry, the government and the conservation 



