145 



The Secretary's determination should be 

 guided by the fact that it is not the intent 

 of this legislation to prohibit the display 

 of marine mammals in zoos, aquaria, or 

 amusement parks that comply with applicable 

 regulations and standards. The Committee 

 recognizes that the recreational experience 

 is an important component of public display 

 and that public display has served a useful 

 educational purpose, exposing tens of 

 millions of people to marine mammals and 

 thereby contributing to the awareness and 

 commitment of the general public to 

 protection of marine mammals and their 

 environment . 



THE PDBLIC DISPLAY COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO EDUCATE THE PDBLIC AND 

 TO FURTHER MARINE MAMMAL CONSERVATION 



In 1991, over 32 million visitors observed marine mammals at 

 Alliance facilities alone and 110 million visited AAZPA 

 members. In the past five years, over 10 million people 

 participated in specially designed education outreach programs 

 developed and funded by Alliance members. Another 8-9 million 

 will have the opportunity this year alone to benefit from a new 

 and progressive educational satellite television series. And 

 these numbers do not include the millions of students who 

 participate annually in group visits organized by classroom 

 teachers. 



Visitors to Alliance and AAZPA facilities begin learning the 

 moment they enter. Each exhibit is designed with an educational 

 theme in mind. Habitat themes are enhanced through 

 interpretative graphics, illustrated guide books and narrated 

 programs, to name a few. Supplementing the general education 

 programs available to the visiting public are numerous in-depth 

 and specialized educational programs for pre-school and school 

 children of all ages, college students, adults, teachers and 

 others. 



An October, 1992 Roper Poll shows the public is in near 

 unanimous agreement (92%) that marine life parks play an 

 important role in educating the public about marine mammals and 



