215 



achieve. It has caused a virtual absence of regulation of tuna fishing opera- 

 tions, as the only vessels left at sea are outside the control of the act. 



The Seafarers Union and its affiliated fishermen and cannery affiliates urge 

 this committee to amend the act to allow economical U.S. tuna fishing opera- 

 tions and an end to cumbersome Federal regulations and continual court bat- 

 tles. In the process the committee will help preserve a vital U.S. food industry 

 and the jobs it generates for thousands of Americans. 



Thank you. 



STATEMENTS OF FRANK DROZAK, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF 

 SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION; FRANKLIN G. ALVERSON, 

 RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PORPOISE RESCUE FOUNDATION; JOHN 

 ROYAL, SECRETARY OF FISHERMEN'S LOCAL NO. 33, INTER- 

 NATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN AND WAREHOUSEMEN'S UNION ; AND 

 AUGUST FELANDO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AMERICAN TUNA- 

 BOAT ASSOCIATION, ACCOMPANIED BY CAPT. JOSEPH MEDINA; 

 AND JOHN MULLIGAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TUNA 

 RESEARCH FOUNDATION 



Mr. Drozak. If it is satisfactory with the rest, I will proceed. 



Mr. Leggett. Your statement will appear in the record as though 

 read in full. 



Mr. Drozak. Yes; but I want to make some comments first. 



Mr. Leggett. Very good. 



Mr. Drozak. First, I want to thank the chairman for allowing the 

 Seafarers to participate today at this hearing. 



Second, I would like the Chair and the committee to know that 

 the AFL-CIO and the Maritime Trades Department combined repre- 

 sent some 14 million workers who are very much concerned with the 

 impact of the loss of jobs relative due to the effects of the Marine 

 Mammal Protection Act. 



Not only that, but they are concerned about the impact that it will 

 have in some of the cities where the workers have established homes 

 and live and work. We are very much concerned with that. 



And number two, Ave are concerned as to the law itself and its 

 implementation relative to the American fishermen when there is no 

 such requirement for the foreign fleet to avoid damaging or destroy- 

 ing the porpoises. We just feel that this situation is not fair. "Whether 

 or not there is an American fleet fishing, tuna will be caught by 

 foreign fleets. In view of this inequitable situation there is a threat 

 of transfers to foreign flags by U.S. tuna vessels. 



These are some of our concerns. 



I am also concerned, Mr. Chairman, relative to the observers and 

 who is to pay for them. 



I heard this morning, earlier, Congressman McCloskey said that 

 it should be industry, that it should not be Government. We believe 

 however that observers are not needed and that if employed should 

 be paid for by the Government. 



I heard this' afternoon other statements 



Mr. Leggett. I do not really want to get into that. 



It is my view that this is a matter of actually — well, what I would 

 like to get into is a system whereby license fees, tuna industry pays, 



