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Questions from Representative Dan Hamburg 



Subcommittee on Environment and Natural Resources 



August 4, 1993 Hearing on H.R. 2760 



Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1993 



For Dr. Nancy Foster, Robert Hofman, Suzanne Iudicello, Sharon 

 Young 



I realize that jurisdiction for sea otters falls under U.S. Fish 

 and Wildlife Service. However, I would like to hear whatever 

 answers any of you could offer to the following questions. 



1) Do you think that the provisions in H.R. 2760 will adequately 

 address the resource competition problems between the 

 shellfish fisheries of California and the California Sea 

 Otter? If not, do you have any suggestions about how the 

 problem could be resolved? 



2) Under H.R 2760, the Endangered Species Act and P.L. 99-625 

 would govern the incidental taking of California sea otters 

 during commercial fishing operations. If at some future time 

 the California Sea Otter is delisted, and is no longer covered 

 under the ESA, would P.L. 99-625 be sufficient to govern this 

 taking? 



3) What are the implications for the shellfish fisheries of 

 California should the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service abandon 

 the San Nicholas Island sea otter translocation and the "no 

 sea otter" management zone established by P.L. 99-625 

 especially if the sea otter is delisted at a future time? 



All witnesses 



Should H.R. 2760 specifically prohibit intentional shooting of 

 marine mammals? 



Many witnesses commented on the provisions in H.R. 2760 to 

 establish the Pinniped Interaction Task Force. Would anyone like 

 to comment further on: 



1) the adequacy of these provisions to address interactions 

 of commercial fishermen, fisheries and pinnipeds; 



2) the need for a Pinniped Interaction Task Force; 



3) the need for more specifics in setting up the Task Force 

 such as a more detailed definition of the types of 

 interactions to be addressed; 



4) whether the Task Force should address interactions with 



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