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PACIFIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSSION, 1978 



10. State Management of Marine Mammals within State 

 Waters 



WHEREAS, marine mammals and manne fishes are both in- 

 tegral parts of the marine ecosystem; and 



WHEREAS, effective management of manne fishenes en- 

 tails consideration of individual species within the total ecosys- 

 tem including the food chain and predator-prey relationships; and 



WHEREAS, Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protec- 

 tion Act of 1972, designating the Commerce and Interior Depart- 

 ments as the responsible management agencies over marine 

 mammals; and 



WHEREAS, separate management authorities over marine 

 mammals and manne fishes precludes effective management; 

 and 



WHEREAS, state agencies have expertise regarding local 

 fish and marine mammal populations and can best prescribe 

 those management measures necessary for marine mammals in 

 state waters; and 



WHEREAS, most marine mammals are neither threatened 

 nor endangered; and 



WHEREAS, fisheries for such animals as abalone and clams 

 have been reduced or eliminated by populations of marine mam- 

 mals while other fisheries such as salmon are suffering from 

 marine mammal predation and the situation will worsen unless 

 coordinated management and control of marine mammals are 

 forthcoming; 



NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Pacific 

 Marine Fisheries Commission urges the Congress of the United 

 States to amend, at the earliest opportunity, the Marine Mamma/ 

 Protection Act of 1972, returning to the States management 

 authority over manne mammals within state waters. 



Adopted unanimously by the five Connpact States: Alaska, 

 California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. 



69-350 0-93-5 



