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PACIFIC MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 9 



MANAGE MARINE MAMMALS FOR CONSERVATION. DEVELOPMENT 

 AND UTILIZATION OF FISHERY RESOURCES 



WHEREAS, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 as presently written, 

 and as has been interpreted by the court, presents great difficulty and concern 

 to the United States fisheries; and 



WHEREAS, the policy and principle upon which the Act is based appear to 

 be in conflict with the sound policies of resource management and maintenance o- 

 the health and stability of the marine ecosystem which was reco-gnized by Congres 

 in the enactment of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976; and 



WHEREAS, the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission, sees the possibility : 

 growing conflict between marine mammals, fishery stocks, and man, with the 

 ecosystem; and 



WHEREAS, a sound, comprehensive resource management program must exist 

 which (jives equal and balanced consideration to all components of the ecosystem 

 including fishery resources, marine mammal populations, and the socio-economic 

 factors affecting this system; and 



WHEREAS, the increasing food requirements of the human population 

 necessitate an enhanced use of the ocean as a source of protein for man and, 

 thus, substantiate the need to manage the entire ecosystem in a rational and 

 efficient manner; 



NOW BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Pacific Marine Fisheries 

 Commission reaffirms its resolutions of 1975 and 1975 and urnes Congress to 

 amend the marine Mammal Protection Act to bring the obiective of the Act withir 

 the framework of the concept of conservation, development and utilization of 

 fishery resources, and facilitate return to the States of marine mammal 

 management within the limits of state jurisdiction. 



Adopted at Portland, Oregon, 

 November 10, 1977 by unanimous 

 approval of the five Compact 

 States: Alaska, California, Idaho, 

 Oregon, and Washington 



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