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TESTIMONY OF 



GUY N. THORNBURGH 

 PACIFIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION 



BEFORE THE 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT 

 AND NATURAL RESOURCES 



ON 



REAUTHORIZATION OF THE 

 MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT 



APRIL 20, 1993 



I am Guy Thomburgh, Executive Director of the Pacific States Manne Fisheries Commission. 

 I represent the interests of commercial, sport-charter, recreational and tribal fisheries of 

 California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Diverse groups such as Trout Unlimited, Pacific 

 Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Pacific 

 Coast Fisheries Legislative Task Force and Washington Department of Fisheries (to illustrate 

 just a few) all share a common interest in changes to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. 



We appreciate the opportunity to comment again on this statute... Again, because in 1973, 1975, 

 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1987 we put into record our sincere concerns for obvious and 

 inevitable conflicts that arise from a law that protects one component of the ecosystem (i.e. 

 marine mammals) in the presence of man's conservation and wise use of other components (e.g. 

 fisheries) (see attached resolutions). 



Much of the public has serious misconceptions of: a) the status of marine mammal populations 

 along the west coast; b) the impact of commercial and tribal fisheries on mammals; and c) the 

 impact of marine mammals on fisheries (including recreational fisheries). The facts are that 

 most mammal populations of our west coast are NOT depressed; the fisheries are NOT 

 jeopardizing the well being of the mammal populations: and many fisheries now are negatively 

 impacted by abundant populations of mammals. 



Status of Mammals 



The gray whale was recently removed from the ESA list "...based on evidence showing that this 

 stock has recovered to near its estimated original population size...". Gray whales are fully 

 recovered from the tragic hunting practices of our ancestors. Northern elephant seal and 

 California harbor porpoise are well within their Optimum Sustainable Population (OSP) ranges. 

 The Southern sea otter population is growing at a healthy 6-8 percent per year. California sea 

 lions have exploded to more than 1 10,000 animals, are increasing at 5-10 percent per year, and 



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