accurate information as to size and composition of the catch. 

 Therefore, plans have been made to develop a suitable sampling 

 system to collect statistics so that small samples can be expanded 

 into total catch figures with reasonable accuracy. These activities 

 are being carried out to some degree at all NMFS facilities, from 

 Woods Hole, Massachusetts, to Miami, Florida, Port Aransas, Texas, 

 La Jolla, California, Kodiak, Alaska, and Honolulu, Hawaii. 



Conservation 



The conservation of threatened living marine resources is the 

 objective of several programs required by recent legislation to 

 protect marine mammals and other endangered species.. 

 Enforcement activities are of major importance in protecting these 

 resources and in preventing the depletion of fisheries. 



MARINE MAMMALS AND ENDANGERED SPECIES 



The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 places an immediate 

 moratorium, with certain exceptions, on the taking and importation 

 of all marine mammals and marine mammal products. Under the act, 

 the Secretary of Commerce is responsible for protecting and 

 assessing the status of whales, porpoises, seals, and sea lions, and 

 the Secretary of Interior is responsible for sea otters, walruses, polar 

 bears, manatees, and dugongs. 



During the first year of administration of the act, exemptions were 

 considered in cases where undue economic hardship would be 

 incurred. Of the 60 applications submitted, 23 were approved, 22 

 denied, and 15 withdrawn. Fourteen formal public hearings on 

 applications claiming undue economic hardship were held in nine 

 areas around the country. Other hearings dealt with scientific 

 research, public display, and importation, while still others were 

 held to obtain public- comment on disposition of beached and 

 stranded marine mammals and on measures to reduce the incidental 

 taking of marine mammals, particularly porpoises, in commercial 

 fishing operations. 



The provision allowing commercial tuna fishermen to take 

 porpoises without a permit, when such taking is incidental to 

 commercial fishing operations, expires October 21, 1974. The 

 immediate goal of the Marine Mammal Protection Act is to reduce as 

 much as possible the incidental kill or serious injury of porpoises by 

 commercial fishing operations. 



Since most porpoise mortalities and serious injuries result from 

 entanglement in nets and gear mishaps during fishing operations, 



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