The National Marine Fisheries Service Take Reduction Team negotiation process evaluation

Between 1996 and 1997, Abby Arnold, RESOLVE, in collaboration with Abby Dilley, The Keystone Center, Alana Knaster, The Mediation Institute, and Susan Podziba and Associates, convened and facilitated five multi-party negotiation processes for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Under requirements established by the 1994 Amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the NMFS was charged with forming teams made up of academics, researchers, conservation organizations, fisherman, federal and state regulators and gear technologists. The Teams were charged with developing consensus recommendations for how to reduce incidental take ofstrategic marine mammals during commercial fishing operations.