315 



To continue to participate in and make recommendations on the role of the 

 United States in international negotiations affecting the welfare of marine 

 mammals. 



In fiscal year 1978, the Commission will place continued emphasis on con- 

 tributing to the negotiation of an agreement governing the conservation of 

 living marine resources in the Southern Ocean — the area surrounding Ant- 

 arctica. This ocean will probably be subject to severe over-exploitation if 

 prompt and effective measures for conservation are not taken. The Commis- 

 sion considers conservation and protection of the living resources of the South- 

 ern Ocean to be of utmost importance. 



By late 1977, the Commission expects management of marine mammal pop- 

 ulations will have returned to the State of Alaska. In hopes of constructively 

 contributing to sound State management practices, the Commission and its 

 Committee of Scientific Advisors will become more intensively involved in a 

 review, both biological and sociological, of activities related to marine mam- 

 mal management in the State. 



Intensive analyses of collected data on populations and subpopulations will 

 be continued in an effort to further refine the wildlife management principles 

 embodied in the Act. 



The tuna-porpoise problem will continue to place the greatest single demand 

 on Commission resources in fiscal year 1978. Although the situation is not 

 entirely clear now, the tuna industry has stated that it would make a fishing 

 vessel available for research purposes for a year. In addition to providing a 

 chief scientist for the research effort, the Commission will also support dis- 

 crete research projects on the problem. We expect to devote roughly a third 

 of the Commission's research budget to this — probably the most pressing na- 

 tional issue affecting marine mammals. 



The strength of the Commission has come, in no small measure, from its 

 Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals. The Committee will 

 continue to play a critical role in the planning and implementation of special 

 studies for the Commission. Consistent with past practice, new subcommittees 

 will be formed to deal with important issues as they arise. In fiscal year 

 1978, there will be special emphasis placed on the tuna-porpoise problem, the 

 relationships that exist between certain marine mammals and fisheries, the 

 review of agency research activities, the development of new research plans, 

 the review and analysis of state management practices, and the continued pro- 

 vision of scientific bases for international negotiations. 



Last but not least, the Commission has successfully held a number of 

 workshops. The one with which all of you are most familiar is the one which 

 formed the basis for the tuna-porpoise research cruise last year. We intend 

 to increase our workshop approach to issues in fiscal year 1978. For example, 

 we shall hold workshops on issues related to problems in Alaska, to the sea 

 otter problem in California, and to marine mammal fishery interactions. 



No attempt will be made to support all appropriate marine mammal re- 

 search with Commission funds. Instead, the Commission will continue to em- 

 phasize its coordinating and catalytic role by fostering the development of 

 needed national and international marine mammal research programs. Con- 

 sistent with its intention to transfer research responsibilities for $100,000 

 worth of research to the Department of Commerce and of the Interior in 

 fiscal year 1978, the Commission will continue to emphasize further assump- 

 tion of certain of its research responsibilities by the line agencies in fiscal 

 year 1979. 



REQUESTED LANGUAGE CHANGE 



The Commission requests that you consider striking the second sentence of 

 Section 207. This sentence mandates that two-thirds of the Commission's 

 budget be devoted to research and study activities. The deletion of language 

 provides for more flexible allocation of sums, appropriated than is currently 

 the case. Such flexibility will be necessary in order for the Commission to 

 operate at the requested level of $900,000. 



CONCLUSION 



The Commission has been instrumental in : developing marine mammal 

 management policies; developing biologically and legally constructive ap- 

 proaches to requests for waivers of the moratorium ; carefully directing sup- 



