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of this testing must be carried out at sea and under actual fishing conditions. 

 One of the most serious deficiencies of the present program is the inadequacy 

 of available ship time for such research and development efforts. In addition, 

 the Commission is concerned that certain innovative gear developments and 

 techniques may not be receiving adequate consideration because of an unduly 

 restrictive view of the options which are available under the tests of practica- 

 bilitv or feasibility of Sections 111(b) and (c) of the Act. 



Finally, the Commission is concerned that funds now allocated lo work 

 on this subject are inadequate. 



These observations and concerns lead the Commission to recommend that: 



(1) Research on techniques and gear design and modification be accelerated 

 and broadened rather than restricted, as now appears to be the trend. Smaller 

 mesh sizes, the tapered net, the double backdown, use of ponga boats as tow 

 vessels, the hukilau, and various other gates and devices to facilitate porpoise 

 release and prevent entanglement should be thoroughly explored and tested 

 at sea during numerous experimental cruises; 



(2) Short-term efforts to achieve immediate reduction of incidental kill be 

 continued and expanded but, since such efforts are unlikely to yield a total 

 solution to this problem, more emphasis must be placed upon simultaneously 

 gainins a basic understanding of the problem : 



(3) Research efforts be directed toward understanding the tuna-porpoise 

 bond, and a detailed behavioral analysis of both fish and porpoise during pur- 

 suit and capture be made, utilizing such means as underwater films of the 

 entire process and the placement of behavioral scientists as observers on 

 experimental and regular fishing cruises : 



(4) The National Marine Fisheries Service continue their population dy- 

 namics program, and, for each affected species, develop population models 

 which include growth curves, recruitment rates, age at sexual maturity, and 

 other relevant factors ; 



(5) An intensive program of tagging, release, and recapture of porpoise 

 caught in nets be initiated. The tagging methods of choice appears, at this 

 time, to be cryobranding the dorsal fin and perhaps fin notching. Validation 

 work on these techniques should be carried out on captive animals prior to 

 anv major use at sea ; 



(6) The National Marine Fisheries Service aerial reconnaissance program 

 be refined to resolve certain problems noted and especially to develop ground 

 truth data and to estimate errors from other sources. Other innovative aerial 

 census methods, such as infrared sensing of porpoise respirations, may be 

 feasible and should be examined ; 



(7) Much more reliable estimates of both population sizes and population 

 trends be developed by the efforts suggested above and other means; 



(8) Definitive information on the extent of porpoise mortality and serious 

 injury incidental to tuna fishing operations in areas of the world other than 

 the CYRA be gathered; 



(9) Intensive efforts be undertaken to stop unpermitted out-of-season fish- 

 ing in the CYRA ; 



(10) Efforts be undertaken to secure more frequent permitted out-of-season 

 access to the CYRA by experimental craft ; and 



(11) Efforts be undertaken to discuss and seek agreement with other fish- 

 ing nations that vessels engaged in commercial fishing operations be required 

 to use such modifications of gear and technique as have proven effective in 

 reducing incidental mortality and serious injury. 



The Commission estimates that at least $1,000,000 per annum will be needed 

 to carry out a reasonable National Marine Fisheries Service research pro- 

 gram. 



The Commission welcomes the U.S. tuna fleet's recently manifested recog- 

 nition of the severity of this problem and their willingness to contribute their 

 expertise and efforts to its solution. Consistent with this constructive and 

 cooperative approach, the Commission invites NMFS to promptly join with it 

 in exploring with the fleet the feasibility of industry dedication of a tuna 

 purse seiner and crew to conduct relevant research and testing at sea under 

 operating conditions in efforts to develop the most mutually desirable, im- 

 mediate and effective resolution of the problem. 



The Commission and the Committee look forward to cooperative efforts with 

 NMFS and the tuna industry in the development and implementation of the 

 research and development program outlined above. 



