The position of the Government of the United States within the IWC to
provide for the total protection of cetaceans irrespective of their
conservation status is contrary to improving the management of our
fisheries resources to ensure sustainable fisheries. U.S. policy which puts
marine mammals above human needs puts at risk the proper management of
fisheries for the politically expedient goal of total protection of whales.
The U.S. Department of Commerce pamphlet tries to hide or ignore the
serious problem of competition between marine mammals and fisheries by
making statements that ignore scientific findings and calling these
statements "facts" and by citing non-problem examples. It is
analogous to saying that crime is not a problem by citing one or two cities
with low crime rates. On the other hand, for many areas of the ocean,
scientific findings clearly show that fish consumption by cetaceans is
important and often in direct competition with fisheries for human food. 
