182 



\s omnloved in this ConvenUon, the expression "conservation of the living 

 re.s(mm's of llu' hiRh s«>as" means the aggregate of the measures rendering pos- 

 sible the (optimum sustainable yield from those resources so as to secure a maxi- 

 nuun supply of food and other marine products. 



Ill addition, however, with increasing knowledge of and concern 

 over the adverse impact of man's activities on his environment, there 

 has come an increasing recognition of the need for protection of those 

 species of wildlife which, though not commercially exploited by man 

 in tlie usual sense, are endangered or rare. The United States is moving 

 forward in this field as well. In addition to our domestic legislation 

 for the protection of endangered si)ecies, with which you are familiar, 

 the Department of State, in cooperation with the Department of the 

 Interior, will convene in Washington in April an international pleni- 

 potentiary conference for the purpose of concluding a covention on 

 the conservation of rare and endangered species of wildlife. As a 

 basic working document for the conference, the International Union 

 for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has nreuared 

 a draft convention on the export, import, and transit of certain 

 species of wild animals and plants. The present draft, incidentally, 

 provides for controls over a number of species of marine mammals. 



It has been our experience that other governments are generally 

 receptive to proposals for negotiations looking to agreements either 

 for the conservation for rational use of species of economic benefit 

 to man or for the protection of endangered species — so long as a 

 reasonable scientific case can be made that international measures 

 are in fact needed. We do not intend to imply that the scientific 

 evidence must be conclusive. It must, however, be sufficient to inspire 

 concern in the minds of reasonable and knowledgeable men. Without 

 facts to support them, such proposals as that which would place a 

 complete prohibition on the killing of all ocean mammals would, we 

 believe, find little acceptance among the international community. 



Of the various bills before you, one type would place such a total 

 ban on the killing of ocean mammals, would have the Secretary of 

 State seek worldwide agreement to this end, and would express the 

 sense of the Congress that the existing fur seal treaty be permitted 

 to expire. Another bill would ban the taking of all species of seals 

 and contemplates international agreement to this effect. Still others 

 would require that humane methods be used in the killing of fur 

 seals and that no females and pups be taken. Finally, one of the bills 

 would provide for selective management of ocean mammals by species 

 and stocks and would seek negotiations to encourage international 

 arrangements for marine mammal research and conservation. 



To the best of our knowledge, the scientific evidence is not avail- 

 able to support a blanket prohibition on the killing of all species 

 of ocean mammals or even all species of seals. However, H.R. 10i20 

 with appropriate revisions could provide for the necessary research 

 and regulatory authority to afford a foundation for international 

 negotiations as may be needed. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be glad to answer any questions 

 the committee might have. 



Mr. Anderson (presiding). Thank you, Mr. McKernan. I com- 

 mend vou on a very fine statement. 



Mr. Pelly? 



