134 



year, these longline fleets landed about 20 million pounds of 

 food at fishing ports from Texas to Maine. This catch was worth 

 more than S 75 million at point of first sale. 



Blue Water was formed four years ago but already has 

 established several programs to help conserve the stocks of fish 

 and marine ecosystems upon which we depend. Last year, for 

 example, our members voluntarily tagged over 4,000 fish which 

 were released alive, collected over 3,800 tissue samples 

 requested by government scientists, provided numerous 

 opportunities for government scientists and observers over and 

 above those required to record our catch and study our vessel 

 operations, participated in several scientific workshops and 

 study groups, and assisted the government in various research 

 efforts. 



1. Commercial Fisheries Should Be Defined In A Consistent 

 And Accurate Manner. 



There are many different U.S. commercial fisheries and sub- 

 sets within each gear type and fishing area and each has a 

 different interaction with marine mammals. Some of these 

 interactions are significant and some are not. Thus targeting 

 government and industry efforts to reduce the incidental taking 

 of marine mammals on those commercial fisheries where they will 

 do the most good is extremely important. 



To focus efforts in the right fishery there needs to be a 

 clear and consistent definition of what is meant by a "fishery." 

 In the past few years Blue Water has repeatedly raised concerns 

 with the manner in which the NMFS has been distinguishing one 



