from 9 December 1986 to 2 February 1987 and that, during this 

 period, they had taken 4,014 crabeater seals, 649 leopard 

 seals, 107 Weddell seals, 30 Ross seals, and 2 elephant seals. 



In 1988, the Seals Convention will have been in effect for 

 ten years and, pursuant to the previously mentioned review 

 provision, the United Kingdom, as depository government, will 

 convene a review conference in London. During the conference, 

 to be held 12-16 September 1988, the Parties to the Convention 

 will consider ways to improve operation of the Convention, 

 including the possible need to constitute a regulatory body 

 and scientific advisory body. The Marine Mammal Commission, 

 in consultation with its Committee of Scientific Advisors, 

 will work with the Department of State and other involved 

 U.S. agencies to develop U.S. positions on matters to be con- 

 sidered at this review conference. 



Activities Related to Other Living Resources 



Experimental harvesting of Antarctic krill was begun by 

 the Soviet Union and Japan in the early 1960s. Commercial 

 harvesting of finfish was begun by the Soviet Union in the 

 late 1960s. As noted in previous Commission Reports, concern 

 that the developing fisheries, particularly the krill fishery, 

 could adversely affect dependent and associated species, as 

 well as the species being exploited, led the Scientific Com- 

 mittee on Antarctic Research to plan and coordinate an inter- 

 national research program entitled "Biological Investigations 

 of Marine Antarctic Systems and Stocks." Recognition of the 

 need for a legal framework to regulate fisheries led the 

 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties to develop and adopt 

 the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living 

 Resources . 



The Convention, which was concluded in May 1980 and came 

 into force in April 1982, established the Commission and the 

 Scientific Committee for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine 

 Living Resources. The first meetings of the Commission and 

 Scientific Committee were held in 1982. The Marine Mammal 

 Commission's activities regarding negotiation of the Convention 

 and the first five meetings of the Commission and Scientific 

 Committee established by the Convention are described in pre- 

 vious Annual Reports. 



The 1987 meetings of the Commission and Scientific Com- 

 mittee ; The 1987 meetings of the Commission and Scientific 

 Committee for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living 

 Resources were held in Hobart, Australia, on 26 October - 6 

 November 1987. To help prepare for these meetings and to 

 review plans for the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Research 

 Program being developed by the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 (see below) , the Service, in consultation with the Marine 



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