1988-65 Supporting the Negotiated Agreement Concerning the Marine Mammal Protection Act.ATTEST:
By:
Introduced:
Adopted:
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. 88 -65 -R
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT
CONCERNING THE MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT
WHEREAS, the Marine Mammal Protection Act is up for
reauthorization this year; and
WHEREAS, under the current act all fishing which may effect
marine mammals designated as depleted must cease; and
WHEREAS, Northern fur seals and Stellar sea lions are considered
depleted; and
WHEREAS, ceasing all fishing which may take or effect Northern
fur seals and Stellar sea lions would seriously jeopardize the economic
welfare of Alaskan coastal communities and Alaskan fishermen; and
WHEREAS, research is inadequate to determine the cause of the
i apparent declines in Northern fur seals and Stellar sea lions as well as
many marine birds; and
WHEREAS, the commercial fishing communities and the
environmental communities have negotiated a compromise agreement to allow
commercial fishing to continue; and
WHEREAS, the concern over marine mammals is a nationwide
concern; and
WHEREAS, the negotiated agreement requires funding for
. observers by the U.S. Congress; and
WHEREAS, the logistics of deploying observers on vessels
delivering to shorebased plants in Alaska require a local infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is able to
hire and deploy observers for 52,000 per man month less than the National
Marine Fisheries Service;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Kodiak Island Borough
Assembly supports the negotiated marine mammal agreement and urges the
United States Congress to appropriate adequate funding to implement the
agreement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly
urges increased research and funding into the environmental changes in the
Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska which may effect the carrying capacity for
marine mammals and seabirds; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly
urges the Alaska Department of Fish and Game be granted a portion of the
federal observer funds to handle the marine mammal observer program on
vessels delivering to shorebased plants in Alaska.
Mayor Selby
9/15/88
9/15/88
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 15th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1988.
Kodiak Island Borough
B _ ugh Mayor