216 



under the northern spotted owl controversy, points to the need 

 to use an ecosystem-based management program to reverse the 

 many wildlife species problems occurring throughout the 

 Pacific Northwest. In that context, the crisis has already 

 taken hold, with several wildlife species and vital economic ■ 

 interests that depend upon natural resource utilization in 

 jeopardy. With foresight in research and management, it 

 should be possible to avert these problems before they occur 

 in the Bering Sea and other large marine ecosystems. If 

 ecosystem-based research, management, and protection 

 initiatives are not initiated soon for the marine environment, 

 in general, and the Bering Sea, in particular, the northern 

 spotted owl crisis in the old growth forests of the Pacific 

 Northwest may soon be accompanied by an equally severe crisis 

 on the high seas off the coast of Alaska or elsewhere. 



For purposes of carrying out the proposal described in 

 this report, the following amendment to the MMPA is requested: 



Amend section 110 of the MMPA by adding new subsections 

 (b) and (c) to read as follows: 



(b) (1) The Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior, 

 in consultation with the Marine Mammal Commission, shall 

 within 60 days of enactment contract with the National Academy 

 of Sciences for an independent assessment of natural and 

 anthropogenic factors affecting the health and stability of 



[19653-0001/DA940590.060] -46- 



