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Friends of the Sea Otter ("FSO") appreciates this 

 opportunity to provide testimony on the reauthorization of the 

 Marine Mammal Protection Act ("MMPA"). 



FSO is a non-profit conservation organization that was 

 formed in 1968 to protect the Southern sea otter and its 

 marine habitat. To the degree determined by the relationship 

 to the Southern sea otter population, FSO also occasionally 

 becomes involved in issues related to Alaska and Russia sea 

 otter population biology and management. Over 4,700 members 

 in 50 states and 20 foreign countries support FSO's efforts. 



In 1977, FSO was instrumental in having the Southern sea 

 otter listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act 

 ("ESA") . Since then, FSO has testified in Washington, D.C. 

 during ESA and MMPA reauthorization hearings. FSO also played 

 an active role in achieving state legislation that restricted 

 the use of gill nets in nearshore waters along central 

 California significantly reducing incidental take in fishing 

 operations. These restrictions have been one of 

 conservation's greatest success stories — a precipitous 

 decline in the status of a threatened population was 

 dramatically reversed through cooperative efforts, and the 

 fragile Southern sea otter population is now undergoing modest 

 growth . 



(10S81-O0O2/DA931 180.01 1] 



