86 



hesitant to report due to concerns about negative political 

 fallout, but many did not know how to do so. 



We ask the Committee to work with the NMFS in developing a 

 reporting system that will work more effectively than that which 

 has been in place during the past five years. We would be willing 

 to assist in any way possible. 



Penalties and Enforcement 



The penalties suggested by the Committee's draft are too harsh 

 and do not provide for differentiating between offenses. 



Pinniped Interaction Task Force 



The Maine Aquaculture Association did not take a position on 

 the negotiated critical stock regime because the marine mammal 

 interactions which Maine's salmon net pen industry is concerned 

 about arise from the presence of robust harbor seal and gray seal 

 populations in Eastern Maine where a new fishing industry is 

 developing . 



This situation represents a significant long-term impediment 

 to the continued development of the marine finfish aquaculture 

 industry in the northeast. 



During the winter months of the past two or three years, 

 Maine's $50 million salmon net pen industry has experienced losses 

 from seal predation that are estimated to be as high as $5 million 

 each year. These economic losses from damaged, stressed, and 

 released fish are occurring even though all available predator 

 control technologies are being employed. 



In behalf of the Maine Aquaculture Association, I participated 

 in the discussions that produced the "Intentional Lethal Taking of 

 Pinnipeds" proposal. Unfortunately, our efforts to develop a 

 regulated permitting system which allows for the continued 

 intentional lethal taking of individual animals from robust seal 

 populations - to protect gear and catch in the marine finfish 

 aquaculture industry - ultimately failed. 



Earlier this month, we asked NMFS Acting Assistant 

 Administrator Dr. Nancy Foster to immediately establish an informal 

 "Intentional Lethal Taking Task Force" in order to begin to 

 consider the possible authorization of a general permit for salmon 

 farmers before this winter. 



We are pleased that the Committee's draft bill recognizes this 

 problem by calling for the establishment of a Pinniped Interaction 

 Task Force although this proposal does not appear to specifically 

 authorize the Secretary to permit limited intentional lethal takes, 

 to protect gear and catch, if a task force recommends this 



5. 



