with extinction. The extent of trade control depends upon 

 the extent to which a species is endangered which, in turn, 

 is reflected by its inclusion on one of three Appendices to 

 the Convention. Species included under Appendix I are those 

 considered to be threatened with extinction; they also are or 

 may be affected by trade. Species on Appendix II are not 

 necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so 

 unless trade in them is strictly controlled. Appendix III 

 includes species that any Party identifies as being subject 

 to regulation within its jurisdiction for the purpose of 

 preventing or restricting exploitation and for which the 

 Party needs the cooperation of other Parties to control trade. 

 There are 96 Parties to the Convention, including the United 

 States. 



Additions or deletions of species listed on Appendices I 

 and II can be made by agreement of the Parties and, in the 

 case of Appendix III, by individual Parties. Parties to the 

 Convention meet biennially to consider, among other things, 

 changes to the lists of species in the Appendices. The Sixth 

 Conference of Parties to the Convention was held on 12-24 July 

 1987 in Ottawa, Canada, and is discussed in the previous 

 Annual Report. The Fish and Wildlife Service acts as the 

 lead agency on U.S. delegations to such meetings. 



As noted in the Annual Report for Calendar Year 1986, the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service suggested to the Fish and 

 Wildlife Service that the United States submit a proposal to 

 the Sixth Conference to delete northern elephant seals ( Mirounga 

 angustirostris ) from Appendix II. This proposal was not put 

 forward by the U.S. delegation, nor was it raised by other 

 delegations during the Sixth Session. At the end of 1988, 

 however, it was the Commission's understanding that the Fish 

 and Wildlife Service would consider submitting such a proposal 

 to the Seventh Conference of Parties, scheduled to be held in 

 Lausanne, Switzerland, in October 1989. 



With respect to other species of marine mammals, a proposal 

 was put forward at the Sixth Conference of Parties by the 

 Government of The Netherlands to list both the Atlantic and 

 Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus ) on Appendix II. The Commis- 

 sion, in consultation with its Committee of Scientific Advisors, 

 reviewed that proposal and available information on walrus 

 populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and, on 28 

 April 1987, wrote to the Service recommending that the U.S. 

 delegation oppose the proposal put forward by The Netherlands. 

 The Service concurred with the Commission's assessment that 

 neither the Pacific nor Atlantic walrus population was in 

 danger of becoming threatened with extinction, and a U.S. 

 position opposing its listing on Appendix II was adopted. 



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