Taking into account the views expressed by its own 

 scientists and representatives of the Commission, the National 

 Science Foundation and the U.S. academic community, the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service announced, on 13 October 1988, that 

 it was sending the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration ship Surveyor to the Antarctic to conduct two 

 research cruises during the 1988-1989 austral summer. The 

 Service also announced that a program review and planning 

 meeting would be held early in April 1989 to assist in the 

 development of a multi-year plan for subsequent field operations 

 in the Southern Ocean. 



The Marine Mammal Commission believes that both basic 

 and directed research are essential to effective operation of 

 the Antarctic Treaty system. Therefore, in 1989, the Commission 

 will continue to work with the Department of State, the National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service, the National Science Foundation, and private 

 organizations to facilitate development of both basic and 

 directed marine research programs in the Antarctic. 



Activities Related to Non-living Resources 



As noted in previous Marine Mammal Commission Annual 

 Reports, there is growing interest in potential non-living 

 resources in Antarctica, particularly offshore oil and gas. 

 Disturbance, noise, oil spills, and other environmental 

 pollutants possibly resulting from exploration, development, 

 and transport of oil, gas, or other non-living resources 

 could have direct and indirect effects on whales, seals, 

 krill, and other components of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. 

 The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties have recognized 

 this possibility and, at the Xlth Antarctic Treaty Consultative 

 Meeting (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 23 June-7 July 1981) , agreed 

 that an international agreement should be elaborated to provide 

 means for: (1) assessing the possible impact of mineral 

 resource activities on the Antarctic environment in order to 

 provide for informed decision-making; (2) determining the 

 acceptability of possible mineral resource activities; and 

 (3) governing those activities determined to be acceptable. 

 Negotiation of the agreement was begun in June 1982 and, 

 following ten subsequent negotiating sessions, on 2 June 

 1988, the Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral 

 Resource Activities was concluded and adopted by the Antarctic 

 Treaty Consultative Parties. The Convention was open for 

 signature on 25 November 1988 and, by 31 December 1988, had 

 been signed by ten Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties, 

 including the United States. The Convention will enter into 

 force 30 days following the deposit of instruments of ratifi- 

 cation, acceptance, approval, or accession by 16 of the 22 

 Consultative Parties. 



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