319 



"Undertaken studies of marine and coastal areas in which marine mammals 

 may require special protection ; 



"Made recommendations on research, the negotiation of international agree- 

 ments, and other matters in efforts to resolve the tuna-porpoise problem; 



"Caused the undertaking of, participated in, and partially supported a 

 major research cruise devoted to examining behavioral as well as other 

 approaches to solving the tuna-porpoise problem; 



"Conducted and/or supported workshops on tuna-porpoise behavior; popu- 

 lation assessment; the status of certain stocks; sea otter research; marine 

 mammal marking and data storage; the effect of the Nantucket oil spill on 

 marine mammals; and porpoise breeding in captivity; 



"Reviewed and commented on marine mammal research activities of other 

 Federal agencies ; 



"Recommended changes in the Endangered Species List including recom- 

 mending designation of the Hawaiian monk seal as endangered and parts of 

 its habitat as critical ; 



"Evaluated activities undertaken by Federal agencies to enforce the Marine 

 Mammal Protection Act and made recommendations based on that review ; 



"Reviewed the permit system and recommended approaches to improving its 

 efficiency ; 



"Analyzed and recommended changes in management plans affecting marine 

 mammals in certain national parks; 



"Made recommendations on proposed outer continental shelf leasing and 

 drilling actions ; 



"Reviewed and commented on the California Coastal Plan for coastal zone 

 management ; and 



"Contributed papers and expertise to domestic and international scientific 

 consultations, such as the FAO meeting in Bergen, on marine mammals." 



FISCAL YEAR 1978 ACTIVITIES AT $2,000,000, $1,000,000, AND $900,000 



In answering this question, I would like to address initially three points: 

 the five-year budget projections for the Commission ; Commission staffing ; and 

 implementation of Section 110(a) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 

 1972. 



Budget Projections 



As stated in our testimony, the Administration's current policy is that 

 operational research activities of the Commission should be diminished in 

 accordance with the line agencies' abilities to assume these responsibilities. 

 The Commission is to continue to support research activities essential to the 

 fulfillment of its statutory research responsibilities and to its policy deter- 

 minations. Consistent with this view, the Administration has provided the 

 following long-range budget projections : fiscal year 1978, $900,000 ; fiscal year 

 1979, $760,000 ; fiscal year 1980, $712,000 ; fiscal year 1981, $665,000 ; fiscal year 

 1982, $617,000. The fiscal year 1979 through 1982 figures do not include pro- 

 visions for inflationary increases at this time. 



Commission Staffing 



At present, the total Commission staff, including secretarial help, numbers 

 ten. The Scientific Program Director is actively managing about 70 research 

 and study contracts. Were the Commission to be provided $2,000,000 in fiscal 

 year 1978, the additional $1,000,000 would be used for research and studies. 

 Without additional high-level scientific talent, the Commission cannot properly 

 oversee the additional research activities. Therefore, we believe that the 

 additional $1,000,000 should not be sought by the Commission unless provision 

 is made for additional staff. 



Section 110(a) 



Section 110(a) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act provides the line 

 nsencies with authority to make grants or otherwise provide financial assist- 

 ance to "any Federal or State agency, public or private institution, or other 

 person for the purpose of assisting such agency, institution, or person to 

 undertake research in subjects which are relevant to the protection and con- 

 servation of marine mammals." The Commission is deeply concerned that the 

 use of the authorities provided in Section 110(a) has been totally inadequate. 

 Were sums appropriated to Commerce and Interior for use under Section 

 110(a), the Commission believes that some research which it would contem- 



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