91 



to reduce the take of non target fish would require observers on 

 each boat. 



The cost of the marine mammal/ fisheries interaction regime, 

 at NMFS conservative estimates, would be approximately $19 

 million or almost double the current federal appropriation. In 

 addressing the funding question for marine mammal observers and 

 research, we believe that it is important to look at all possible 

 funding sources. 



FIRST STOP APPROPRIATIONS 



The first stop is appropriations for fiscal year 1994. 

 Together with the fishing industry, we will work with the 

 Appropriations committee to try and get them to add to the 

 requested $10 million that has been requested for items to 

 implement the marine mammal/fisheries program. We will be 

 sending a joint letter to the appropriations committee 

 to urge them to appropriate this higher amount for fiscal year 

 1994. In addition, we are urging increases in all the relevant 

 line items in the President's proposed budget that are relevant 

 to the implementation of a new successful program. These include 

 increased money for population assessments, gear research, 

 conservation engineering and a restoration of Saltonstall-Kennedy 

 funding (S-K) . In the event that we are not successful in our 



