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conceptual agreement on a process for the Secretary of Commerce to 

 use in deciding what, if any, management measures to adopt to 

 respond to pinnipeds which were identified as habitually exhibiting 

 dangerous or damaging behavior that cannot otherwise be deterred. 

 These organizations were the Alaska Groundfish Data Bank, Aleutians 

 East Borough, Animal Protection Institute, center for Marine 

 conservation, Concerned Area M, Gulf of Alaska coalition, Kodiak 

 Island Borough, National Fisheries Institute, Northwest Indian 

 Fisheries Commission, Pacific states Marine Fisheries Commission, 

 Peninsula Marketing Association, The Marine Mammal Center, and 

 Trout Unlimited. Attached is a copy of the June 15 agreement for 

 the record. 



These organizations agreed that a process should be 

 established which would assist the Secretary in determining whether 

 to implement recommendations to lethally remove habitual offenders, 

 develop non-lethal methods of deterrence, or take no action. While 

 these organizations agreed on a process, it is fair to say that 

 there were wildly divergent views within the groups about whether 

 lethal removals would be appropriate in specific circumstances. 



In recognition of the general a ;reement on process and 

 diversity of views on remedy, the Commiss- .on specifically responds 

 to your eight questions: 



Question 1! This question involves two types of 

 interactions. The first interaction involves the 

 predation of robuBt marine mammal stocks on fish 

 populations per se, such that the fish populations are in 

 jeopardy of dramatic diminution or extinction. This type 

 of interaction is best represented by the wild steelhead 

 run being threatened by California eea lions at the 

 Ballard Locks in the Lake Washington river system of 

 Seattle, and California sea lion and harbor seal 

 predation in the Columbia River system. The second type 

 of interaction involves the harm being caueed to the 

 commercial and recreational fishing industry by roving 

 marine mammals. This is best represented by the problems 

 being experienced by sport trollers in the Puget Sound, 

 Tillamook Bay, and off the coast of San Diego. 



section 7 of H.R. 2760 as currently drafted does not 

 adequately address either type of interaction. Section 

 7 would form a task force with the authority to offer 

 advice to the Secretary, but would not grant the 

 Secretary With the authority to permit lethal removal 

 when such a management measure becomes necessary. 



Question 2 : There are three options for addressing 

 nuisance pinnipedB. The first option is to do nothing, 

 and allow the harm to continue. The second option is to 

 provide the secretary of Commerce with the authority to 



74-195 0-94-6 



