Development of a Long-Term Conservation Plan for the Chinese 

 River Dolphin 



(B. Wuersig, Ph.D., Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss 

 Landing, California) 



As noted in Chapter II, the Chinese river dolphin ( Lipotes 

 vexillifer ) , or baiji, is one of only five species of river 

 dolphins. Survival of the species is believed to be at risk 

 because of human activities. However, little is known about 

 the natural history and habitat requirements of the species, 

 knowledge of which is essential for development of sound conser- 

 vation measures. The contractor is conducting a site visit 

 to assist researchers from several Chinese universities in 

 developing and implementing a research program to assess the 

 movements and social structure of the baiji in the lower Yangtze 

 River. The contract report, expected in spring 1988, will 

 describe the results of the site visit, discuss critical 

 research and management needs, and identify any steps that 

 possibly could be taken by the Commission or other U.S. agencies 

 to encourage or facilitate actions necessary to protect the 

 endangered baiji. 



Seminar on Frontiers of Marine Ecosystem Research 

 (American Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 Washington, D.C.) 



The American Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service's Northeast 

 Fisheries Center and the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods 

 Hole, Massachusetts, is organizing a Seminar on Frontiers of 

 Marine Ecosystem Research, to be held in Boston, Massachu- 

 setts, on 11-14 February 1988 as part of the Association's 

 annual meeting. The seminar is being co-sponsored by the 

 Association, the Center for Ocean Management Studies at the 

 University of Rhode Island, the National Science Foundation, 

 the Marine Mammal Commission, and the National Oceanic and 

 Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service. 

 The purpose of the seminar is to review existing theory and 

 information concerning the structure and dynamics of marine 

 ecosystems and to call attention to the importance of collecting 

 long time series of fisheries, environmental, and other data 

 using the best available technology. The future of all marine 

 mammals will depend, in part, on identifying and protecting 

 key elements (e.g., feeding and breeding areas) of the marine 

 ecosystems of which they are a part. Thus, the seminar results 

 will assist in determining and designing programs necessary 

 to understand and protect marine ecosystems and their component 

 elements, including marine mammals. 



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