152 



Pursuant to the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969, 

 for instance, this Department has exercised every avaihible authority 

 to protect the jrreat wliales. Total protection, however, is not always 

 an effective solution in itself. . 



Populations of wild creatures are not and cannot be isolated trom 

 other elements of the environment under the assumption that such 

 isolation will insure their continued existence. On the contrary, wild 

 animal populations are living, dynamic entities which act and react 

 with each other and with their environment. 



As ecologists, we would like to endorse the much quoted expression, 

 "Let Mother Nature have her way." However, as 20th century realists, 

 we know that to do so would be grossly irresponsible and would greatly 

 decrease the likelihood of the survival of these animals. Man's altera- 

 tion of the world's ecosystems and the increasing potential of tech- 

 nology to further alter them carries with it an obligation to apply 

 these same technical skills to the task of helping these creatures survive 

 the results of our other technological blunders. 



Marine mammals should be conserved and managed to achieve the 

 optimum ecological, esthetic and economic benefit to mankind. We 

 support legislation which will achieve this objective. 



These thoughts and our guiding philosophy are reflected in the 

 Department's written reports on bills now pending before this 

 committee. 



A number of bills have been introduced pertaining to marine mam- 

 mals, ranging in scope from absolute prohibition on the taking of 

 all species to increased authority for study of selected species. We 

 would like to comment on these proposals and to provide our 

 recommendations. 



H.R. 690 would direct the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation 

 with the States to conduct a comprehensive 4-year study of the polar 

 bear and to the walrus for the purpose of developing measures ade- 

 quate to assure conservation of these species on the high seas. A final 

 report of the study, together with recommendations for further action, 

 would be made through the President to the Congress no later than 

 January 1, 1976. 



The factors to be studied would include distribution, migration, and 

 current populations, as well as the effects of hunting, disease, and 

 food shortages. To fund these studies, there would be authorized an 

 annual appropriation of $100,000 for fiscal years 1972-1975. 



We recommend the enactment of H.R. 690, if amended, to delete 

 the list on annual appropriations contained in section 2, and to pro- 

 hibit the taking of polar bears and walrus on the high seas, except 

 as may be permitted by the Secretary of the Interior. In this con- 

 nection, the Department is now working toward an international 

 agreement on the polar bear which would result in a sound program 

 of circumpolar research and management. 



If I may, Mr. Chairman, I would add that the provisions of H.R. 

 690 were discussed wdth the executive committee of the international 

 just yesterday in Salt Lake City, where they are holding their annual 

 meeting, and their executive committee endorses the provisions of 

 H.R. 690 wholeheartedly. 



Mr. DiNGELL. That is the International Association of Game Fish 

 and Conservation ? 



