WHEREAS, legislation was recently introduced in the United States Congress totally prohibiting the harvesting of marine mammals; and
WHEREAS, such legislation, if adopted, would have the effect of nullifying existing international agreements and prevent sound conservation management of these resources on a sustainable basis; and
WHEREAS, marine mammals (such as the sea otter, northern fur seal, Steller's sea lion, California sea lion, Pacific walrus, and northern elephant seal) that formerly were seriously threatened have been restored to greatly improved population levels by sound conservation and management policies and practices,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Society of Mammalogists supports the principle of rational management of marine mammal species; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that said policies be extended by additional international agreements for the conservation and management of marine mammals, particularly in international waters.