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of marine ecosystems, it is clear that the species-specific 

 emphasis of these laws has failed to identify and respond to 

 ecosystem-based protection and management needs. 



The proposal calls for an amendment to the research 

 requirements of the MMPA. Under the first part of the 

 proposed amendment, the Secretaries of the Interior and 

 Commerce, in consultation with the Marine Mammal Commission, 

 would contract with the National Academy of Sciences to 

 prepare a report to Congress on the need for marine ecosystem 

 protection and management. This report would: 1) assess the 

 status of the health and stability of large marine ecosystems 

 consisting in whole or part of waters subject to the 

 jurisdiction of the United States or for which the United 

 States has international treaty obligations, and identify 

 those ecosystems that are experiencing system-wide injury; 



2) analyze the effectiveness of existing research, management, 

 and conservation tools to address these problems; and 



3) identify the additional actions needed to address the 

 identified problems. A special process would be established 

 to utilize Alaska Native organizations and traditional Native 

 local knowledge in this research, including research on the 

 use of marine ecosystem resources for subsistence purposes. 



The second element of the amendment would authorize 

 research specifically directed at marine ecosystem problems 

 and protection needs in the Bering Sea. This research would 



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