36 



Mr. Gilchrest. I guess communication is the art of success and 

 thank you for your testimony. 

 Ms. Beattie. Thank you. 

 [The statement of Mr. Gilchrest follows:] 



Statement of Hon. Wayne T. Gilchrest, a U.S. Representative from 



Maryland 



I wish to commend the Chairman for calling this hearing and welcome this oppor- 

 tunity to hear the testimony today. 



The Marine Mammal Protection Act is the world's premiere legislation, protecting 

 marine mammals and their natural habitats. I am confident that the Act will re- 

 ceive the continued support of this Committee that it so deserves. 



When the Act was first passed, we granted a special, favored status to zoological 

 institutions that display marine mammals to the public in recognition of their im- 

 portant role in educating the public, a vital goal of the Act. A similar status was 

 granted to those engaged in scientific research on marine mammals in recognition 

 of their contributions to marine mammal science and conservation. The importance 

 that public display and scientific research have made in furthering the purposes and 

 goals of the Act cannot be underestimated. A facility located in my own State serves 

 as an excellent example of the vital role that these institutions play in supporting 

 the Act, and the life and development of their communities and States. 



The National Aquarium in Baltimore is a world-class aquatic facility. Its primary 

 goal, as expressed in its mission statement, is to create in every visitor an attitude 

 of respect for the environment and the ecological balance of life. This is accom- 

 plished by providing quality educational and recreational experiences at all levels 

 that adhere to the highest principles of animal care, conservation and scientific re- 

 search. The Aquarium is Maryland's most popular cultural attraction, enjoying an 

 average visitation of over 1.5 million visitors each year since its opening in 1981. 



Showcasing the majesty of all marine mammals, the Aquarium opened its Marine 

 Mammal Pavilion in 1990. The 94,000 square foot, $35 million Pavilion combines 

 live and participatory exhibitry to tell the real story of marine mammals around the 

 world. From the life-sized model of an actual humpback whale to the interactive ex- 

 hibits in Exploration Station, visitors learn in meaningful, lasting ways about wild 

 marine mammals, their unique adaptations to life in the water, and the current 

 threats to their existence. 



The centerpiece of the Pavilion is the Lyn Meyerhoff Amphitheater encompassing 

 the dolphin faculty. This is a 1.2 million-gallon environment housing Atlantic 

 bottlenose dolphins. Surrounding the environment are the world's largest acrylic 

 windows providing visitors with an unprecedented look into the world of the dol- 

 phin. Public presentations focus on marine mammal adaptations and life beneath 

 the waves. Specially produced video and animation displayed on two, large tech- 

 nically advanced screens, punctuates the demonstrations with intimate footage of 

 wild marine mammals and their unique characteristics. These presentations are ac- 

 centuated with a strong conservation message focusing on the need to protect both 

 the aquatic environment and the marine mammals that live there. 



To fulfill its goal to provide a quality educational experience, the Aquarium main- 

 tains a large Education and Interpretation Department with a professional staff ex- 

 perienced in the areas of public programs, curriculum development, resource mate- 

 rials, administration and grants, and professional communications. Educational 

 services are provided to the general public, Aquarium members and the tens of 

 thousands of school children who enter its doors each year. They are also offered 

 directly to individuals and organizations with local, national and international law. 

 In 1991 alone, over 254,000 individuals at all levels, including outreach and training 

 programs, participated in specific educational programs. In 1993, a record 157,000 

 school children visited the Aquarium with many participating in formal classroom 

 experiences. Some of these programs focused specifically on marine mammals and 

 their unique roles in the aquatic environment. Additionally, over 2,000 teachers par- 

 ticipated in aquarium teacher orientation, workshops and other teacher training 

 programs, who then took their new and expanded skills back to their classrooms. 



As with the other members of its living collections, the Aquarium provides the 

 marine mammals in its trust with the very best in husbandry, nutrition, medical, 

 and environmental care. The high level of care by the professional staff is evidenced 

 by the successful births of two bottlenose dolphins one year after opening the facil- 

 ity. Both calves will celebrate their second birthday in one month. The Aquarium 

 also has second-generation captive-born harbor seals in its seal colony. The Aquar- 

 ium is an active member of the AZA Marine Mammal Taxonomic Advisory Group 



