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today's testimony and this Committee's review of permit issues. 

 These issues fall into two broad categories.- first, whether the 

 MMPA protects captive marine mammals, and second, what and how 

 activities involving marine mammals in the wild should be 

 regulated, particularly scientific research activities. 



Captive Marine Mammals 



Representatives of segments of the public display community 

 believe there is duplication among Federal agencies where captive 

 marine mammals are concerned. And, as a result, these groups are 

 asking this Committee to consider amending the MMPA to address 

 their concern. As I will explain in greater detail later in this 

 testimony, we do not agree that such duplication exists among 

 Federal agencies concerning captive marine mammals; and we 

 believe that such an amendment is unnecessary. If such an 

 amendment is nonetheless the decision of this Committee and 

 Congress, unless carefully crafted, it would put at risk the 

 special protection provided captive marine mammals under the MMPA 

 and could itself create duplication of responsibilities or, at a 

 minimum, require additional funding and resources for 

 implementation. 



In a related matter, The Mirage, a recent public display permit 

 holding casino- resort in Las Vegas, filed a lawsuit in September 

 1992 in Federal District Court in Nevada. The Mirage wished to 



