64 



in reservoirs, and to create massive ecological and esthetic problems (May 3, 

 1971). If the manatee survives, and if we are eventually successful at propa- 

 gating it, we may ultimately find that its value to mankind is considerable. 



Questions to be Consideked on Marine Mammal Bills 



In considering the marine mammal legislation, the Committee will be looking 

 into several specific questions, as these affect the marine mammals covered : ceta- 

 ceans (including dolphins and porpoises), eared and earless seals, walruses, 

 sea otters, polar bears and sea cows. These questions are : 



1. What is the current status of species and important population stocks 

 within these categories, i.e., are they growing, declining, or remaining constant? 



2. What is happening to the environment upon which these animals depend? 



3. What national laws and international treaties for management and pro- 

 tection of these animals are currently in existence? Are these adequate and are 

 they likely to be adequate, if demands increase? 



4. How much research time and money is available and currently devoted to 

 these animals within and outside the U.S. government? 



5. What are the current and reasonably foreseeable demands, both U.S. and 

 international, upon these ajnimals for food, clothing, display, research and/or sale 

 of skins? 



The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1971 



The bill entitled "The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1971" was drafted 

 to provide comprehensive authority in the Secretary of the Interior to manage 

 the taking of all marine mammals within the jurisdiction of the United States. 

 The bill covers all marine mammals, including seals, -whales, polar bears, wal- 

 ruses and other mammals which spend all or a good part of their lives at sea. 



The bill creates an absolute prohibition upon the taking of these animals, but 

 softens this by providing the Secretary of the Interior with authority to issue 

 permits for the taking of marine mammals. Before doing so, he is required to 

 make an annual determination of quotas to be taken, subject to review by the 

 public and by an independent Marine Mammal Commission. Criminal and civil 

 penalties are provided for violation of the law, as well as forfeiture of the 

 animals. 



There is an exception to the Act for Indians, Aleuts and Eskimos, who may 

 take marine mammals within their cultural tradition, if not for sale or resale. 

 The Secretary is encouraged to develop cooperative arrangements with the gov- 

 ernors of coastal states to cover the taking of mammals within territorial waters. 

 Japan and Canada, who are entitled to a proportion of the annual take from 

 the Pribilof Islands, are offered their choice of a fixed number of skins or a 

 dollar amount, computed with reference to earlier seasons. 



The bill also establishes an independent three-man Marine Mammal Commis- 

 sion, charged with an overview of the entire program, and authorized to review 

 and to report on the progress of activities under the Act on an annual basis. The 

 Commission is to be assisted in its responsibilities by a committ^ of expert 

 scientific advisors. The activities of the Commission, its scientific advisory com- 

 mittee and of the Secretary of the Interior are all to be matters open to public 

 inspection and review. 



The Ocean Mammal Protection Act of 1971 



The bill entitled the "Ocean Mammal Protection Act of 1971" declares a general 

 policy that there Should be, as soon as possible, a worldwnde ban on the slaughter 

 of all ocean mammals. 



It creates an absolute ban on the killing of such animals by U.S. citizens, or 

 U.S. vessels, or by anyone in U.S. waters, or the importation of the same. Indians, 

 Aleuts and Eskimos are permitted to take such mammals for their own use, but 

 not for sale, or under contract to a commercial operation. Zoos and .scientists are 

 permitted to take ocean mammals, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary 

 of the Interior. Violators of the Act are subject to criminal i>enalties and for- 

 feiture of equipment used by their operations. 



The bill declares it to be the sense of the Congress that the existing Inter- 

 national Convention for the Conservation of the North Pacific Fur Seals should 

 be terminated at the stated termination date in 1975. In the interim, Japan and 

 Canada would be entitled to cash payments or to nine thousand skins each, in 

 lieu of their treaty entitlement. The bill also establishes a "Pribilof Seal Rook- 



