155 



2. The current purposes and policies of the MMPA must 

 remain in place, including the zero mortality goal; 



3. A permit system based on the current mechanisms in 

 the MMPA must be used to authorize incidental take and drive 

 MMPA recovery efforts for sea otters in Alaska and other 

 marine mammals; 



4. A conservative bias must be exercised in favor of 

 Alaskan sea otters and other marine mammals; 



5. The burden of proof for obtaining authorization for 

 incidental take must be placed on the fishing industry; 



6. Efforts should be made to work with the fishing 

 industry to develop fishing techniques and gear that will 

 reduce incidental without undue burdens on the industry; and 



7. Finally, adequate observation, verification and 

 reporting of incidental takes are essential. There is no 

 excuse for anything less than full and accurate reporting and 

 cooperation with verification efforts by all those involved in 

 incidental take. 



FSO is now participating in the negotiations between the 

 environmental community and the fishing industry over the 

 development of an appropriate program to govern incidental 

 take of marine mammals. In keeping with the commitment made 

 by the participants in that effort, we are withholding 



I10581-O002/DA931180.0111 -7- i^m 



