A panel of marine mammal specialists fielded questions last week on how fishermen should interact and deter endangered species like whales and sea lions.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Juneau gave a presentation that included law review under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and different strategies to take when around humpback whales, sperm whales and steller sea lions.

The underscored theme of the presentation was to stress that laws created under the MMPA are not to protect fishermen but rather the endangered animals.

Fishermen were the predominant audience at the...