mercial whaling which began in 1986 (see following 

 discussion) . Thus, commercial sealing and whaling presently 

 do not pose threats to Southern Ocean populations of seals 

 and whales, both activities could resume. In addition, 

 serious threats could be posed by developing fisheries, 

 particularly the fishery for Antarctic krill ( Euphausia 

 superba) , and growing interest in possible offshore oil and 

 gas resources. 



As noted in previous Commission reports, Antarctic krill 

 occupies a central role in the Southern Ocean food web. It 

 is one of the dominant herbivores and the principal component 

 in the diets of numerous species including: fin, blue, 

 humpback, and minke whales; crabeater and Antarctic fur 

 seals; Adelie, chinstrap, macaroni, and rockhopper penguins; 

 several other species of sea birds; and several species of 

 fish and squid. Some of these species are eaten in turn by 

 sperm whales, killer whales, leopard seals, and other higher 

 order predators. 



Because of the possible direct and indirect effects of 

 fisheries and offshore oil and gas development on marine 

 mammals, the Marine Mammal Commission has, since 1974, 

 undertaken a continuing review of matters that might affect 

 krill or other important components of the Southern Ocean 

 ecosystem. It has made recommendations to the National 

 Science Foundation, the Department of State, and the National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine 

 Fisheries Service on the need for basic and directed research 

 and monitoring programs, and for international agreements to 

 effectively regulate fisheries and offshore oil and gas 

 exploration and development in the Southern Ocean. Since the 

 mid-1970s, the Commission has also provided, often through a 

 representative serving as the lead scientist on the U.S. 

 delegation, scientific advice during the many negotiating 

 sessions here and abroad on Antarctic living and non-living 

 resource regimes. Activities before 1986 have been described 

 in previous Annual Reports. A summary of these earlier 

 activities and a description of 1986 activities are provided 

 below. 



Activities Related to Antarctic Seals 



The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals, 

 which entered into force in March 1978, recognizes that 

 unregulated harvesting could have severe adverse effects on 

 Antarctic seal stocks and on the marine ecosystem of which 

 they are a part. The Convention includes an Annex which 

 specifies permissible catch levels, sealing areas, and 

 sealing seasons for various species. The Convention requires 

 that parties to the Convention annually provide information 

 to the other parties and to the Scientific Committee on 



18 



