119 



■>■ 3 - 



meet. the criteria of subsection (el(4) of this 

 section . " 3 



It is essential that public display and scientific 

 research not become embroiled in the regime relating to 

 commercial fishing. In enacting the MMPA, Congress 

 recognized the indispensable role of zoological institutions 

 in raising public awareness of marine mammals and intended 

 not to inhibit these institutions from obtaining the small 

 number of animals they need for their beneficial purposes. 4 



3 Subsection («) (4) provides that the immediate goal of 

 the conservation team is to advise the Secretary, through the 

 development of a conservation plan, on methods of reducing 

 lethal incidental takes of marine mammals below the potential 

 biological removal levels established under subsection (c) as 

 quickly as possible, and on methods of reducing incidental 

 lethal takes to insignificant levels approaching zero within 

 10 years. 



4 Congress recognized the important role of public 

 display institutions in relation to marine mammals as 

 "resources of great international significance, esthetic and 

 recreational as well as economic," 16 U.S.C. § 1361(6). 

 During Congressional deliberations on the MMPA, Congressman 

 Pryor said that "the intent of this basic legislation was not 

 to deprive those particular institutions of bringing in a 

 proper number of animals for the public use." Legislation on 

 Preservation and Protection of Marine Mammals: Hearings 

 before the Subcomm. on Fisheries & Wildlife Conservation of 

 the House Comm. on Merchant Marine & Fisheries, 92d Cong. , 

 1st Sess. 83 (1971). Senator Hollings stressed that without 

 observing marine mammals in oceanaria the "magnificent 

 interest" in marine mammals will be lost and "none will ever 

 see them and none will care about them and they will be 

 extinct." Ocean Mammal Legislation: Hearings Before the 

 Subcomm. on Oceans & Atmosphere of the Senate Comm. on 

 Commerce, 92d Cong., 2d Sess. 266 (1972). "[I]f it were not 

 for these organizations and the public exposure you have on 

 these animals in the first place, these matters wouldn't be 

 brought to the attention of the public." Id. 555. Senator 

 Cranston emphasized the "valuable educational service 

 performed by these institutions." Id. 552-53. Senator 

 Chiles stated that he gave "strong support towards 

 recognizing the oceanarium exhibition industry in this 

 legislation." Id. 164. Senator Gurney took note of the 

 "advent of seaquariums and oceanariums" that have brought 

 home "a much greater awareness of . . . ocean mammals." 118 



