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but also residents of coastal communities who consume walrus 

 meat for subsistence purposes. The Bering Sea ecosystem also 

 involves complex international issues related to shared fish 

 and wildlife populations with Russia and the international 

 fisheries in the Bering Sea. 



In addition to the adverse impact that improper 

 management of the Bering Sea can have on the resources of the 

 region, the threat of legal restrictions imposed under the ESA 

 and other laws to protect affected species is already becoming 

 a reality in the Bering Sea region, producing controversy and 

 resulting in restrictions on resource utilization activities. 

 For example, the listing of the Steller sea lion under the ESA 

 has resulted in restrictions on commercial fishing activities. 

 If additional regulatory measures become necessary to protect 

 the declining marine resources of this region, the Bering Sea 

 may eventually become as embroiled in the conflict between 

 species protection and natural resource utilization as is 

 presently being experienced by the Pacific Northwest as a 

 result of legal measures undertaken or contemplated to 

 conserve the northern spotted owl, the marbled murrelet, and 

 several salmon species. 



Other marine ecosystems manifest problems similar to 

 those evident in the Bering Sea. Most of the problems being 

 experienced in the Bering Sea are also occurring in the Gulf 

 of Alaska. Off the coast of New England, numerous fisheries 



(196S3-0001/DA940390.060) -5- 3/3/94 



