Comment from Margaret Silver, Private Citizen

I urge the U.S. government to act quickly to prohibit swordfish imports from foreign countries until exporting countries have submitted the proof required by Section 101 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The U.S. is one of the top swordfish consumers in the world. Congress included section 101 in the MMPA to reduce the negative effects of Americans' demand for swordfish on worldwide marine mammals populations. Section 101 of the MMPA states the U.S. government, "shall ban the importation of commercial fish or fish products that have been caught with commercial fishing technology that results in the incidental kill or incidental serious injury of marine mammals in excess of United States standards." Yet, the U.S. has received swordfish imports from nearly four dozen countries in recent years without gathering any information from any of these countries regarding their fishing practices, take of marine mammals, or any other information to satisfy the requirements of MMPA section 101. Recent scientific data indicates that many foreign countries fail to regulate their fisheries in a manner that protects marine mammals. This is illegal and unacceptable and must be quickly corrected by banning swordfish imports until Section 101 requirements are met.