estimates should be made of Dall's porpoise biological para- 

 meters, including gross annual reproductive rate and natural 

 mortality rate; and expanded research must be conducted by 

 the Federation on gear modifications, including studies of 

 the behavioral patterns of Dall's porpoise, mesh sizes, auditory 

 stimuli, sound generators, net setting and retrieval techniques, 

 and metal or metal particle filled filament. 



In recognition of the importance of this research, on 

 20 November 1987, the Commission recommended to the Service that 

 the annual report/action plan requirements of the North Pacific 

 Fisheries Act, which expired on 9 June 1987, be formally 

 extended for every year the Federation conducts activities in 

 U.S. waters. If this is done in accordance with the public 

 review requirements of the North Pacific Fisheries Act, it 

 should be possible for the Service, the Commission, and other 

 interested parties to monitor the progress being made in 

 fulfilling the Federation's research and monitoring permit 

 conditions. 



In the 20 November 1987 letter, the Commission also 

 requested that the Service comply with the North Pacific 

 Fisheries Act by preparing a report on the results of the 

 Federation's fishing activities for 1986 and publishing a 

 notice of availability of that report in the Federal Register . 

 Finally, the Commission requested information on the enforcement 

 actions taken by the Service with respect to unauthorized 

 incidental takes of marine mammals other than Dall's porpoise 

 during 1987 fishing operations. At the end of 1987, the 

 Service had not responded to this letter. The Commission 

 intends to pay particularly close attention to the implemen- 

 tation of the Federation's permit conditions during 1988. 



149 



