Subject: NMFS Draft Report to Congress on West Coast Pinnipeds (fwd)

Mike Williamson (pita@www1.wheelock.edu)
Tue, 3 Jun 1997 13:33:37 -0400 (EDT) 

To: MARMAM@UVVM.UVIC.CA
Subject: NMFS Draft Report to Congress on West Coast Pinnipeds


     A recent posting to MARMAM mischaracterized a draft report to Congress
     prepared by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that
     requested comments for dealing with the impact of California sea lions
     and Pacific harbor seals on salmon species.  As explained in the
     Federal Register, NMFS conducted an investigation to determine whether
     California sea lions and Pacific harbor seals are having a significant
     negative impact on the recovery of certain salmonid stocks or on the
     coastal ecosystems of Washington, Oregon, and California.  After
     completion of the report of the scientific investigation (scientific
     report), NMFS prepared a draft report to Congress to submit
     recommendations, resulting from discussions with the Pacific States
     Marine Fisheries Commission to address issues and problems identified
     in the scientific report.  The scientific report is complete and
     available for public information, and the draft report to Congress is
     available for public review and comment.  Comments are due to NMFS by
     June 26, 1997.

     The draft report to Congress is posted on the NMFS Office of Protected
     Resources home page at the following address:

     http://kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov/tmcintyr/report.html

     The Federal Register notice that summarizes the issues and
     recommendations included in the draft report and gives instructions
     for submitting comments is also available.  The notice may be found at
     the following address:

     http://kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov/tmcintyr/pinnfr.html

     Please read the report for yourself regarding the nature of the
     recommendations.  Thanks:  Tom Eagle (Tom.Eagle@noaa.gov)