FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Information Contact
Bob Fletcher, President
SAC (619) 226-6455

The Chairman of the House Resources Committee, Richard Pombo, has agreed to hold an Oversight hearing on the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in San Diego on August 19, 2003, to receive testimony on the impacts of the exploding populations of California Sea Lions and Pacific Harbor Seals on recreational and commercial fisheries, marinas, public beaches and private recreational and commercial vessels at anchor. The Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife & Oceans of the House Resources Committee will conduct the hearing, and while there will be no general public testimony, anyone interested is encouraged to submit written testimony, and observe the hearing. In addition, the public record will remain open for ten days after the hearing, and email comments will be accepted during that time at the House Resources Committee address at: resources.committee@mail.house.gov

Subcommittee Chairman Wayne Gilchrist, in a letter inviting Bob Fletcher to testify, stated that, “The Subcommittee is interested in hearing testimony regarding these marine mammals and the types of interactions occurring with humans. Have injuries occurred to people or the marine mammals? Can measures be taken to reduce these interactions? Have the increased marine mammal populations and their needs for haul-outs and rookeries led to the loss of access to public areas or private property? What effects, if any, have these increased marine mammal populations had on recreational and commercial fishing operations? Have these increasing populations of marine mammals had any effect on other marine species? What type of actions, if any, should Congress take to address these issues?

The Hearing will begin at 10 AM at the Shedd Auditorium of the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109. As parking as well as seating in the Shedd Auditorium is very limited, SAC urges you to carpool and/or attend only if you have a special interest in this issue. A summary of the testimony will be available within two-four weeks of the hearing.

Among those invited to testify in addition to Bob Fletcher are Ken Franke Jr., the owner of the sportfishing boat OUTER LIMITS and a Lt. in the San Diego Harbor Police, Buck Everingham, owner of Everingham Bros. Live Bait in San Diego, Steve Rebuck, fisheries consultant from central California, Frank Emerson, head of the Fisheries Alliance of California, headquartered in Monterey, Joe Scordino, marine mammal biologist with the northwest region of NOAA Fisheries, Dr. Brent Stewart, marine mammal biologist with Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, Dr. Robin Brown, marine mammal biologist with the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and Dr. Doyle Hanan, marine biologist, formerly with the California Dept. Fish & Game, and now an independent consultant. Additional experts may still be named and invited to testify.

Fletcher stated that, “CA sea lions and Pacific harbor seals have thrived under the protection of the MMPA, and are more and more creating problems for citizens on docks, bait receivers, beaches and with the sportfishing and private boating community. Congress must understand that we have our backs to the wall and need their help in developing ways to co-exist with these increasingly aggressive hordes of seals and sea lions. Making federal dollars available for development of non-lethal deterrents would be a great start. Marine mammal protection needs to give way to marine mammal management.” Please contact the SAC office for any additional information.