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The surveys were carried out by a contractor in August 

 and September 1982 and, in December 1982, another meeting of 

 the planning/coordination group was held to evaluate research 

 progress. The group concluded that further work was needed 

 to improve the estimate of annual recruitment, to determine 

 stock distributions, and to assess the possible direct and 

 indirect effects of offshore oil and gas exploration and 

 development. The group also concluded that the priority 

 tasks were to: 1) continue low altitude aerial surveys to 

 photo-identify and measure individual whales; 2) continue 

 the spring ice camp censuses of whales migrating past 

 Barrow; 3) assess the distribution of whales as they migrate 

 through the nearshore open-water lead to correct or validate 

 census results; 4) continue harvest monitoring and collection 

 of biological information and material from harvested whales; 

 5) complete analyses of reproductive tracts and other specimen 

 material which had been collected; and 6) continue upgrading 

 and evaluating existing population models. These and a 

 number of related studies were conducted or supported by the 

 North Slope Borough, the National Marine Fisheries Service, 

 the Minerals Management Service, and the NOAA Outer Continental 

 Shelf Environmental Assessment Program in 1983. During the 

 year, the Commission reviewed and commented on several 

 reports from earlier studies and contributed to the preparation 

 of papers concerning population modelling and reanalysis of 

 historical whaling data. 



The results of the 1982 research program, and the 

 preliminary results from studies conducted during the summer 

 and autumn of 1983, were reviewed at a program planning/coordination 

 meeting held in Seattle on 13-14 December 1983. From the 

 information presented and discussed at this meeting, it is 

 clear that further work is needed to: determine whether the 

 spring ice camp censuses, which have been done since 1977, 

 are missing segments of the population; improve estimates of 

 the age structure and productivity of the population; 

 identify and characterize feeding areas, breeding areas, and 

 other areas of similar biological importance; and provide 

 more reliable assessments of the possible impacts of offshore 

 oil exploration and development on both the whales and their 

 habitat. The Commission will continue to work with the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service, the Minerals Management 

 Service, and other interested parties to assure that the 

 necessary work is done. 



