72 



STATEMENT OF 



JOHN E. REYNOLDS, III, PH.D. 



CHAIRMAN 



MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION 



BEFORE THE 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

 COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



FEBRUARY 10, 1994 



Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee: 

 I am John E. Reynolds, III, Chairman of the Marine Mammal 

 Commission. It is my pleasure to appear before you this morning. 

 As requested, I will confine my remarks to issues related to 

 reauthorization of the Marine Mammal Protection Act other than 

 the new regime to govern the take of marine mammals incidental to 

 commercial fisheries. 



The Committee specifically requested the Commission's views 

 with respect to scientific research permits under the Marine 

 Mammal Protection Act and on the management of marine mammals for 

 public display. I would also like to comment on issues of 

 concern to Alaska Natives and the need to reconcile the 

 provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act with our 

 international responsibilities under the Agreement on the 

 Conservation of Polar Bears. I shall address issues related to 

 scientific research first. 



Scientific Research 



When it passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972, 

 Congress recognized that there was inadequate knowledge of the 

 ecology and population dynamics of marine mammals and realized 

 that a vigorous research effort would be needed to overcome this 

 deficiency. After all, it is difficult or impossible to make 

 wise decisions with incomplete or inaccurate data. The Act 

 directed the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce to 

 undertake a marine mammal research program and authorized the 

 Secretaries to issue permits allowing the taking and importation 

 of marine mammals, including those from depleted populations, for 

 purposes of scientific research. 



The Act requires that permits authorizing the taking or 

 importing of marine mammals for scientific research or other 

 purposes specify — 



(A) the number and kind [e.g. the species, age, and sex] of 

 animals which are authorized to be taken or imported, 



