70 



Three, conservation teams with at regional, not species- specific 

 focus. Teams would be advisory only and would recommend meth- 

 ods for reducing incidental mortality in their region. Four, funding 

 should be specifically earmarked for research into development of 

 methods to reduce marine mammal mortality. Five, management 

 authority for ESA listed marine mammals should remain with the 

 National Marine Fisheries Services with no permits issued for 

 takes of these stocks. 



In 1972, Congress authorized the Marine Mammal Protection Act 

 in keeping with the wishes of the American people for special pro- 

 tection of these species. Since that time, commercial fisheries' inter- 

 actions have not been regulated to an extent that would realize this 

 protection. 



We implore Congress to reauthorize a strong Marine Mammal 

 Protection Act which can, in fact, reduce the level of mortality to 

 which these animals have continued to be subjected. We believe 

 that the approach which we have outlined will provide a basis for 

 the recovery of marine mammals, and the wise conservation of ma- 

 rine resources, and is in keeping with the wishes of the American 

 people and the spirit and the intent of the MMPA. 



Once again, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to ad- 

 dress the committee. We are prepared to assist you in any way to 

 improve this situation, and I will be happy to answer your ques- 

 tions. 



[The prepared statement of Ms. Young follows:] 



Prepared Statement of Sharon Young 



GfOod afternoon. I am Ms. Sharon Young, wildlife consultant for the International 

 Wildlife Coalition (IWC). I appreciate having the opportunity to testify today on be- 

 half of the IWC and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) with regard 

 to the problem of management of fishery interactions with marine mammals. We 

 are joined in our testimony by 9 other organizations which make up the Marine 

 Mammal Protection Coalition, representing a combined constituency of over 3 mil- 

 lion persons. 



We appreciate the Committee's interest in preserving the principles of the Marine 

 Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and look forward to working with you, Mr. Chair- 

 man, and the Committee staff, during the re-authorization process. 



ntroduction 



As you know, one of the primary goals of the MMPA is to reduce marine mammal 

 mortality to "an insignificant level approaching zero". The zero mortality rate goal 

 is fundamental and must not be eroded. Without it, marine mammal populations 

 cannot be expected to remain at, or recover to their optimal sustainable populations 

 (OSP). In 1988, Congress passed an interim exemption program within the MMPA, 

 designed to gather data on the extent of interactions between marine mammals and 

 conmiercial fisheries. We are concerned that the past five years of this interim ex- 

 emption program have significantly undermined the original legislative intent of 

 Congress when it first passed the MMPA in 1972. As we face the re-authorization 

 of the MMPA, proposals have been put forth by both the National Marine Fisheries 

 Service (NMFS) and in a joint document from 7 conservation and more than 30 fish- 

 ing industry groups. We are concerned that both of these proposals are significantly 

 flawed, and as a consequence, deny marine mammals sufficient protection from ex- 

 cessive takes by the fishing industry. Congress and the American people have long 

 supported legislation which fully protects marine mammals from unnecessary mor- 

 tality; however, that protection has never been achieved. The overriding concern of 

 the organizations that I represent today is that the reauthorization of the MMPA 

 must achieve verifiable and significant reductions in the overall level of marine 

 mammal mortality which occurs in fishing operations. 



