The Nation - News from Sept. 27, 1988

The House voted to ban tuna imports from countries that accidentally kill too many porpoises and dolphins during the fishing season. By voice vote, the House adopted restrictions on foreign fisheries of yellowfin tuna, requiring nations to implement a marine mammal conservation program similar to the U.S. plan. Under the bill, foreign nations must cut in half the death rates for porpoises by the end of the next fishing season and reduce the number of dolphins killed to a level comparable to the level killed by the U.S. fleet. Yellowfin tuna are often located by sighting dolphins that accompany them. The bill now goes to the Senate. In related action, the House, by voice vote, gave final congressional approval to a bill reauthorizing the Endangered Species Act for another five years and sent the bill to President Reagan.