text: SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
  
      The Congress finds the following:
              (1) The goal of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 
          (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) is to maintain marine mammal species 
          and population stocks at their optimum sustainable populations.
              (2) If the annual removals of individuals of a species or 
          population stock of marine mammals do not exceed the potential 
          biological removal level, the species or population stock will 
          be maintained at, or reach, its optimum sustainable population.
              (3) Requiring that commercial fishermen achieve a zero 
          mortality rate goal for a species or population stock of marine 
          mammals that is equal to or less than 10 percent of the 
          potential biological removal of a given marine mammal species 
          or population stock is unnecessary to achieve that Act's goal 
          of maintaining species and stocks at their optimum sustainable 
          population and penalizes commercial fishermen.
              (4) The Congress intended that the zero mortality rate goal 
          under that Act would be met if fishermen use the best 
          technology that is economically and technologically feasible.
              (5) Species and populations stocks of marine mammal that 
          have reached historic levels are impeding the recovery of 
          endangered species and threatened species through predation or 
          competition in the ecosystem.
              (6) The fundamental principles of ecosystem management are 
          defeated by giving one species a preeminent position in the 
          ecosystem through, imposition of a zero mortality rate goal.
              (7) All persons that interact with marine mammals should 
          seek to reduce and eliminate marine mammal injuries and 
          mortalities through the use of the best equipment and 
          techniques that are economically and technologically feasible.
  
  SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF GOALS FOR REDUCING INCIDENTAL TAKE OF MARINE 
                MAMMALS IN COMMERCIAL FISHING.
  
      (a) Repeal of Zero Mortality Goal.--Section 118 of the Marine 
  Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1387) is amended by striking 
  subsection (b), and by redesignating subsections (c) through (l) in 
  order as subsections (b) through (k).
      (b) Conforming Amendments.--Such Act is further amended as follows:
              (1) In section 101(a)(2) (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(2)) by striking 
          the third sentence.
              (2) In section 101(a)(5)(E)(i)(III) (16 U.S.C. 
          1371(a)(5)(E)(i)(III) by striking ``subsection (d)'' and 
          inserting ``subsection (c)''.
              (3) In section 115(b)(4) (16 U.S.C. 1384(b)(4)) by striking 
          ``section 118(f)(1)'' and inserting ``section 118(e)(1)''.
              (4) In section 117(a)(4) (16 U.S.C. 1386(a)(4)) in 
          subparagraph (D) by striking ``, and an analysis'' and all that 
          follows through the end of the subparagraph and inserting a 
          semicolon.
              (5) In section 118 (16 U.S.C. 1387) by striking 
          ``subsection (c)(1)(A) (i)'' each place it appears and 
          inserting ``subsection (b)(1)(A)(i)''.
              (6) In section 118 (16 U.S.C. 1387) by striking 
          ``subsection (c)(1)(A)(i)'' each place it appears and inserting 
          ``subsection (b)(1)(A)(i)''.
              (7) In section 118(a)(1) (16 U.S.C. 1387(a)(1)) by striking 
          the last sentence.
              (8) In section 118(b), as redesignated by subsection (a) of 
          this section 16 U.S.C. 1387(c)(1)(B)), by striking ``subsection 
          (e)'' each place it appears and inserting ``subsection (d)''.
              (9) In section 118(c)(1)(B), as redesignated by subsection 
          (a) of this section (16 U.S.C. 1387(d)(1)(B)), by striking 
          ``subsection (e)'' and inserting ``subsection (d)''.
              (10) In section 118(e)(9)(D), as redesignated by subsection 
          (a) of this section (16 U.S.C. 1387(f)(9)(D)), by striking 
          ``subsection (d)'' and inserting ``subsection (c)''.
              (11) In section 118(f)(1), as redesignated by subsection 
          (a) of this section (16 U.S.C. 1387(g)(1)), by striking 
          ``subsection (c)(1)(A)(iii)'' each place it appears and 
          inserting ``subsection (b)(1)(A)(iii)''.
              (12) In section 118(g), as redesignated by subsection (a) 
          of this section (16 U.S.C. 1387(h)), by striking ``subsection 
          (c)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)''.
              (13) In section 120(j)(2) (16 U.S.C. 1389(j)(2)) by 
          striking ``118(f)(5)(A)'' and inserting ``118(e)(5)(A)''.
      (c) Modification of Goal of Take Reduction Plans.--Section 
  118(e)(2) of such Act, as redesignated by subsection (a) of this 
  section (16 U.S.C. 1387(f)(2)), is amended by striking the last 
  sentence and inserting the following: ``The long-term goal of the plan 
  shall be to reduce, within 5 years after its implementation, the 
  incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals incidentally 
  taken in the course of fishing operations taking into account the 
  economics of the fishery, the availability of existing technology, and 
  existing State or regional fishery management plans.''.
target: Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to repeal the long-term goal of reducing to zero the incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations. Makes reduction of such incidental mortality and serious injury (but not to any specified percentage) the long-term goal.
feat_title: To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to repeal the long-term goal for reducing to zero the incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations, and to modify the goal of take reduction plans for reducing such takings.