possible risk of disturbing, injuring, or otherwise affecting 

 monk seals. 



Additional information bearing on these questions was 

 requested and received. Following further review of each 

 application, the Commission wrote to the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service on 30 March and 6 May 1987, respectively, 

 recommending that the permits be approved subject to certain 

 conditions. The recommended conditions were to minimize 

 risks to the individuals and populations involved, and to 

 ensure that potential unforeseen adverse impacts are detected 

 and resolved as soon as possible. Both permits were subse- 

 quently approved by the Service, subject to the conditions 

 recommended by the Commission. 



U pdating the Recovery Plan 



The questions raised during the permit review process 

 highlighted the urgent need for periodic, thorough reviews of 

 all research and management activities proposed under the 

 monk seal recovery program. In particular, reviews are needed 

 to ensure that proposed activities address the most critical 

 issues, that activities are well conceived, and that any 

 potential risks to individuals and the population are clearly 

 outweighed by the anticipated benefits. 



Therefore, in the previously mentioned 26 December 1986 

 letter, the Commission recommended to the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service that the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Team, 

 which had not met since 1984, be reconstituted and convened 

 to help update the March 1983 Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery 

 Plan and provide expert advice on critical research and manage- 

 ment needs. During 1987, the Service issued invitations to 

 individuals, including representatives of the Marine Mammal 

 Commission, to serve as members of the Hawaiian Monk Seal 

 Recovery Team. The Service also established terms of reference 

 which call upon the Team to assist the Service in identifying 

 priority research and management actions, reviewing the status 

 of the species and recovery actions, identifying necessary 

 changes in the Recovery Plan, and providing technical assistance 

 on matters such as scientific research and section 7 consul- 

 tation. The first meeting of the Recovery Team was tentatively 

 scheduled for 27-29 October 1987. However, it was subsequently 

 cancelled due to funding constraints. 



In view of the need to review and update the Recovery 

 Plan, the Commission, in consultation with its Committee of 

 Scientific Advisors, convened a Hawaiian monk seal program 

 review during the course of its Annual Meeting in Miami on 

 10-12 December 1987. Representatives of the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service as well as members of the Commission and 

 its Committee of Scientific Advisors attended the review. 



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