402 



needs, rather than in terms of the needs of ecological balance within a 



natural ecosystem. . i /-, • 



In their testimony before this subcommittee, the Committee on 

 Humane Legislation stands against management, as well as against 

 harassment and kill. 



First, marine mammals are truly international and abdication of 

 management by the United States in the form of a total moratorium 

 only leaves the field open to exploitation of other nations. Since our 

 country is one of the world's leaders in developing scientific manage- 

 ment methods, the result is almost surely bound to be bad. 



Second, no ecosystem on earth has escaped the hand of man. We have 

 already intervened, and often deeply, in systems involving marine 

 mammals. Therefore, we must manage, if only to assume that this 

 intervention is kept in control. 



Third, whether we like it or not, humans have intervened in the 

 natural world to such an extent that there is no backing away from 

 management on a global scale, or else grave consequences will surely 

 beset us. 



The question is not "Shall we manage?" but "How can we manage 

 in such a way that natural ecosystems are not disrupted?" Marine 

 mammal populations are no exception to this case. Even if no kill at all 

 is imposed on the population, we are already at the time when we must 

 monitor it to determine the effects of other human activities upon it. 



3. PROVIDING FOR MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND ITS ADEQUATE FUNDING 



INIanagement, including protection which is one tool of management, 

 must deal with populations (interbreeding units), rather than with 

 species. For instance, the blue whale as a species is depleted ; and some 

 populations are in rather good shape, yet most are desperately close to 

 extinction. 



A basic conservation practice is the maintenance of populations at a 

 level which permits a maximum sustainable yield. This is not a matter 

 that can be legislated, but is possible only through large-scale continu- 

 ing research on an international basis, with emphasis on aspects of 

 biology of the species, distribution, ecology, ethology and population 

 dynamics. The definition of stocks, their optimal population levels 

 wherein mortality is minimal and productivity is high, is a difficult 

 matter. It will demand research on the highest multidisciplinary level 

 and will require periodic i-eview of permits and regulations. 



To these ends, the lack of ship support for marine mammal work is 

 critical. Recent studies on the gray whale in the United States are one 

 example. Scientists were restricted in their specimen collecting efforts 

 to a whaling ship based in central California which could not collect 

 animals either on the Mexican breeding grounds or the Berin-Chukchi 

 Seas feeding grounds. As a result, data were obtained only dnring mi- 

 gration. One point is that there are few present alternatives to tying 

 research to commercial operations. At sea facilities for research are 

 minimal. 



Marine mammals are important for more than just their resource 

 value. Their accumulation of heavy metals and pesticides is now well 

 known and their utility in future programs on environmental monitor- 

 ing is obvious. Porpoises are also used by the high seas tuna fleet to 

 locate fish. 



