106 



CONCLUSION 



Once again, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to 

 address the Subcommittee with our concerns. I would like to close 

 by emphasizing that killing marine mammals has not, and will not, 

 solve any fishery interaction conflicts. In fact, management of 

 marine mammals based on high rates of incidental death is contrary 

 to supporting a viable and productive commercial fishing resource. 

 Further, efforts to self-regulate this industry have been a virtual 

 failure. Therefore, we implore Congress to reauthorize a strong 

 MMPA which includes reasonable regulation of the fishing industry, 

 based on an equitable management scheme that is fishery-specific 

 and includes research into mitigating measures, reduction of take 

 toward zero, and stringent enforcement to ensure compliance. The 

 IWC, HSUS and API believe that this approach will provide for the 

 recovery of marine mammals and wise conservation of marine 

 resources, and is in keeping with the spirit and intent of the 

 MMPA. 



Thank you for this opportunity to express our views. We are 

 prepared to assist in anyway to improve this critical situation. 



