286 



$525,000. The need for interagency coordination, review of environmental 

 statements, public relations activities and the like must be met. In addition, 

 we arc experiencing higher operational costs, especially in Alaska where most 

 marine mammal work is needed. 



The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there is no objection 

 to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the administration's 

 program. 



Sincerely, 



Cecil D. Andrus, 



Secretary. 



Mr. Leggett. Mr. Gehringer, do you want to give us your views at 

 this point? 



STATEMENT OF JACK W. GEHRINGER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, 

 NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 

 COMMERCE, ACCOMPANIED BY HERBERT L. BLATT AND 

 WILLIAM P. JENSEN 



Mr. Gehringer. Mr. Chairman, my name is Jack W. Gehringer, 

 Deputy Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service. 



Mr. Leggett. You are accompanied by Mr. Blatt on your right 

 and 



Mr. Gehringer. Mr. Jensen of our Marine Mammal and En- 

 dangered Species Division is on my left. 



It is a pleasure to appear before you today. 



Mr. Leggett. Let us see. Your statement will appear in the record 

 as though totally read. 



Mr. Gehringer. I will read it because there is ?. slight variation 

 from the other version. 



As this committee recognizes, the events of the past year, particu- 

 larly those relating to the tuna-porpoise problem, have had a major 

 impact at all levels in the Department of Commerce, the National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, and the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service, NMFS, on efforts to implement the Ma- 

 rine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. 



Since substantive issues directly relating to the controversy have 

 been thoroughly addressed in the past few weeks, I do not intend 

 to discuss them at this time except to recognize their existence and 

 implications on our current need for funding. 



Further, although there are pressing funding requirements for 

 which we are seeking immediate relief, there are other no less urgent 

 foreseeable needs that clearly indicate the necessity of increasing 

 authorization limits and providing additional funding. 



We are presently spending $3,455 million under the Marine Mam- 

 mal Protection Act appropriated pursuant to authorizations in sec- 

 tions 110(c) and 114(a) that established a fiscal year 1977 limit of 

 $3,667 million. In order to enable us to meet our commitment to the 

 court for an enforcement plan applicable to any period the NMFS 

 permits fishing for tuna on porpoise, the Office of Mangement and 

 Budget lias approved our request for a $1,114 million supplemental 

 budget increase for fiscal year 1977. 



Mr. Leggett. I presume that is also to meet the requirements of 

 this committee as we may impose them upon the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service? 



