25 



takings of almost 1 million animals. Of the animals taken under 

 a scientific research permit, about 78 percent were caught and re- 

 leased and another 18 percent characterized as simply harassed. 



Now, I would wonder first of all how those numbers may have 

 changed from 1988 to the present and what they might indicate to 

 us with respect to actions that ought to be taken or not taken. Do 

 you have that? 



Mr. Hall. I do not have those numbers. Ann Terbush, who is the 

 Chief of Permits for the Office of Protected Resources is with us. 

 She might be able to answer the question. 



Ms. Terbush. I think on the statistics for takes, we will have to 

 provide that for the record. I do not have it at hand right now. 



[The information referred to follows:] 



Since March 1988, when the discussion paper stated that 145 facilities had ob- 

 tained permits for pubHc display of marine mammals, 12 new aquariums, zoos, or 

 marine paries have obtained permits. However, several older facilities, and marine 

 mammal exhibits at a number of amusement parks, have closed during this same 

 period of time, and the number of marine mammals on display in the United States 

 remains approximately 1,300. 



As for scientific research, according to our computer records for the period from 

 March 1988 through July 1993, 193 additional scientific research applications were 

 submitted requesting takings of 7.663 marine mammals; this number is a total of 

 all types of taking requested during this period, e.g., capture, harassment, lethal 

 takes. The statistics are not directly comparable tx) those reported in 1988, however, 

 because of a difference in data interpretation and data entry. Prior to 1988, num- 

 bers of authorized takes by harassment were often, but not always entered into our 

 data base as "unspecified. Our policy since that time has been to specify numbers 

 whenever an estimate is possible. Of the 3.138 million animals authorized to be 

 taken under the 127 permits that were approved, the vast majority, 3.080 million, 

 or 98 percent, were authorized only to be harassed. Up to 57,074 were authorized 

 to be taken and released. 



The data on which these statistics are based have been collected and maintained 

 in a less than optimal fashion. As part of our effort to improve the permit systena, 

 the NMFS is developing a new data system, which we plan to implement In conjunc- 

 tion with revised permit regulations. 



Ms. Terbush. In general, the permit program- 



Senator Kerry. What about the permits for facilities? 



Ms. Terbush. Facilities is about the same. There have been sev- 

 eral new aquariums that have been permitted. 



Senator Kerry. So, the numbers might be up. Could you get that 

 for us? I think that is a very important measure of whatever the 

 permitting process has done or not done over the course of the last 

 reauthorization and might give us some measurement of areas of 

 concern or not. 



Can you tell us whether or not the numbers that you have have 

 been presented to you in a way that has raised any concern on your 

 part about current management practices or procedures — either Dr. 

 Hofman or Secretary Hall? 



Mr. Hall. In terms of takes of marine mammals from the wild, 

 that practice has declined from most species. There have been very 

 few marine mammals that have been taken in recent years and 

 placed on public display. So, I think in terms of the trends, those 

 numbers are not as much of a concern as the animals that are al- 

 ready there. 



You know, we have looked at this situation. The numbers, I am 

 not familiar with them enough at this point to really know whether 

 I have that much of a concern. 



