65 



STATE OF ALASKA TESTIMONY 



TO THE 



HOUSE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE 



CONCERNING REAUTHORIZATION OF 



THE MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT 



August 4, 1993 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the House Merchant Marine 

 Fisheries Committee, for inviting me to present testimony 

 regarding reauthorization of the Marine Mammal Protection Act 

 (MMPA) . My name is John Gissberg, and I will be presenting to you 

 the position of the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game 



I . BACKGROUND 



Marine mammals have always been of great significance to Alaska 

 and its residents. The economic value of their pelts, oil, and 

 baleen provided much of the incentive for the exploration and 

 purchase of Alaska. For thousands of years, coastal Alaskans have 

 relied on marine mammals for food and other materials essential 

 for their subsistence, and that dependence continues today. 



One of the principal issues of concern during the current 

 reauthorization of the MMPA is the need to develop a workable 

 solution to the problem of incidental take of marine mammals by 

 commercial fisheries. Since the Act was first passed, Congress 

 has recognized that it is inevitable that marine mammals will 

 interact with fishermen, their gear, and their catch. Therefore, 

 while setting a goal of reducing incidental take to "insignificant 



