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According to the cruise industry, cruise lines are currently carry- 

 ing approximately 4.5 million passengers every year. By the year 

 2000, they expect to exceed eight million a year. We are not aware 

 of any studies to consider the cumulative effects that this industry 

 is having on the ecologically sensitive Caribbean basin, the number 

 1 cruise destination in the world. 



Several countries have begun to fine cruise lines for disposal of 

 garbage in their waters. For example, the Cayman Government re- 

 cently assessed two $3,000 penalties in the settlement of two cases 

 against cruise lines. As recently as last week, the government 

 upped the ante, following the example of the United States, and 

 have declared that they will prosecute illegal dumping cases to the 

 full extent of the law and will begin assessing fines of up to half a 

 million dollars. 



Why should the United States be concerned over the cruise in- 

 dustry's impact on the marine environment? Most cruise lines are 

 actually U.S. businesses who are carrying U.S. passengers, but be- 

 cause they register under foreign flags, they are immune to U.S. 

 pollution laws when they travel outside of our waters. As U.S. busi- 

 nesses, the cruise industry needs to be held accountable for their 

 actions. Outraged U.S. citizens have initiated a strong public outcry 

 against the cruise industry's disregard for the environment and are 

 demanding that they clean up their act. CMC feels that there is a 

 strong need for tighter controls and monitoring of the cruise indus- 

 try's impact on our marine environment. 



I would like to take just a minute to share with you part of a 

 letter from a crew member which illustrates the concern we often 

 hear. "Dear CMC, I work on The Enchanted Isle as a photographer 

 and am always scrupulous about taking our garbage down to the 

 collection point. Last week, however, I was dropping off a plastic 

 bag full of assorted trash when I came upon a team of deckhands 

 formed into a chain along which was being passed every plastic bag 

 in the dump, regardless of content, until it reached the last man 

 stationed beside an opened hatch, who swung everything into the 

 sea. I was horrified and stood watching for perhaps a minute before 

 surrendering my bag which naturally went the way of all the 

 others. 



"I have no hesitation, nor compunction, in squealing, as what 

 goes on here is quite obviously wrong and the end product of either 

 sloppiness or parsimony in not spending to expand the garbage 

 hold or install an incinerator. Meanwhile, if I can be of assistance 

 to you or the dolphins and whales beneath me; almost every week I 

 see dolphins somewhere, and they invariably speed toward the ship 

 all smiles when they pick us up. I wonder that they can still be so 

 eager to court our society after all we have done to them; I think 

 they deserve more considerate playmates." 



We commend you for realizing that illegal cruise line dumping is 

 a concern of your constituents and support you in your efforts to 

 address this issue. We thank you for the opportunity to testify. 

 [Statement of Ms. Schrader may be found at end of hearing.] 

 Mr. Tauzin. Thank you very much, Ms. Schrader. We will now 

 hear from the Coast Guard, and Admiral Arthur "Gene" Henn will 

 present the Coast Guard's statement on the issue. Gene, you have 

 been a frequent witness to this panel, and we welcome you again. 



