organizations. Work to be carried out under the Agreement 

 includes: conducting aerial surveys of right whales off the 

 southeast U.S. coast and shipboard surveys in the Bay of Fundy 

 and Cape Cod Bay; developing a computerized right whale sighting 

 data base; assembling a photographic catalogue of individual 

 right whales; developing a computer-based image analysis system 

 to aid in identifying individual whales from photographs; 

 developing a data management system; and recording and analyzing 

 relevant data. 



On 28-29 April 1987, a second meeting of the Scientific 

 Advisory Group was held at Woods Hole to review the results 

 and status of work under the Cooperative Agreement and to 

 identify priority needs for future studies. With respect to 

 future research priorities, the Group concluded that further 

 work should be directed towards: identifying right whale 

 habitat use patterns in the Great South Channel east of Cape 

 Cod and on Brown's Bank off southern Nova Scotia; conducting 

 preliminary surveys of other possible summering grounds; evalu- 

 ating the capability of vessel surveys to collect information 

 simultaneously for individual identification and abundance 

 estimates; continuing development of the right whale photo- 

 graphic catalog and a computer-based image analysis system; 

 developing analytical techniques to develop an index of popu- 

 lation size using individual whale identification data; and 

 adding historical sighting data to the right whale sighting 

 data base. 



As indicated above, the Commission has recommended on 

 several occasions that the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 develop a recovery plan and convene a recovery team for right 

 whale populations in U.S. waters. In late 1986, the Commission 

 was advised by the Director of the National Marine Fisheries 

 Service that steps would be taken in 1987 to act on these 

 recommendations. During 1987, steps were taken by the Service 

 to address both needs. By letters of 15 July 1987, the Service 

 invited scientists and resource managers with knowledge of 

 issues and data regarding right whales, including a Marine 

 Mammal Commission representative, to be members of the Right 

 Whale Recovery Team. By letter of 23 September 1987, the 

 Service provided Team members with terms of reference governing 

 team activities and a schedule for developing a Right Whale 

 Recovery Plan. 



Among other things, the Recovery Team will be responsible 

 for providing the Service with recommendations, advice, and 

 assistance on: developing and implementing the Right Whale 

 Recovery Plan; reviewing the status of the species and recovery 

 efforts; and technical and scientific matters such as scientific 

 research permits and section 7 consultations. Staff members 

 of the National Marine Fisheries Service have been given the 

 responsibility for preparing a draft Recovery Plan and, during 



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