CHAPTER IX 



RESEARCH AND STUDIES PROGRAM 



The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires that the Commis- 

 sion: maintain a continuing review of research programs con- 

 ducted or proposed to be conducted under the authority of the 

 Act; undertake or cause to be undertaken such other studies 

 as it deems necessary or desirable in connection with marine 

 mammal conservation and protection; and take every step feasible 

 to prevent wasteful duplication of research. To accomplish 

 these tasks, the Commission: conducts an annual survey of 

 Federally- funded marine mammal research; reviews and recommends 

 steps that should be taken to prevent duplication and improve 

 the quality of marine mammal research programs conducted or 

 supported by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. 

 Fish and Wildlife Service, the Minerals Management Service, 

 and other Federal agencies; convenes meetings and workshops 

 to review, plan, and coordinate marine mammal research; and 

 contracts for studies to help define and develop solutions to 

 domestic and international problems affecting marine mammals 

 and their habitats so as to facilitate and complement other 

 agencies' activities. 



Survey of Federally-Funded Marine Mammal Research 



Research directly or indirectly relevant to the conser- 

 vation and protection of marine mammals and their habitat is 

 conducted or supported by many Federal departments and agencies. 

 To determine the precise nature of this research, to examine 

 ways in which it can best be used to facilitate marine mammal 

 conservation and protection, and to prevent wasteful dupli- 

 cation, the Commission annually requests and reviews information 

 on the marine mammal research programs being conducted, sup- 

 ported, or planned elsewhere in the Federal Government. 



In 1987, the Commission requested information from 22 

 Federal agencies and departments, at least 16 of which had in 

 the past conducted or supported research relevant to the conser- 

 vation and protection of marine mammals. Those departments, 

 agencies, and offices were the Department of the Air Force, 

 the Department of Energy, the Department of State, the Minerals 

 Management Service, the National Aeronautics and Space Admin- 

 istration, the National Institutes of Health, the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service, the National Park Service, the 

 National Sea Grant College Program, the National Science Founda- 

 tion, the Naval Ocean Systems Center, the Office of Naval 

 Research, the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, 

 the Office of Oceanography and Marine Assessment, the Smith- 



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