and rare, threatened, and endangered species; (2) expansion 

 of the definition section of the Protocol to include definitions 

 of the terms "protected area" and "critical habitat"; (3) speci- 

 fication of the procedures whereby areas and species meriting 

 protection would be identified and designated or listed as 

 "protected areas" and "protected species"; (4) provisions for 

 the development and implementation of coordinated, area-wide 

 species recovery plans; (5) clarification of the functions 

 and responsibilities of institutions that would be created by 

 the Protocol; and (6) clarification of the process that would 

 be used to develop and adopt budgets. 



The Commission's comments and those from other agencies 

 were used to develop U.S. positions on various aspects of the 

 United Nations Environment Program draft Protocol considered 

 during the 24-26 October 1988 Meeting of Experts held in St. 

 Croix. Although progress was made during the St. Croix meeting, 

 there was insufficient time to completely review and develop 

 an agreed revision of the draft Protocol. It was tentatively 

 agreed that the group would meet again for five full days 

 early in April 1989 to complete development of a text which 

 could be considered and adopted at the October 1989 meeting 

 of the Convention Parties. 



At the end of 1988, the Department of State, in consul- 

 tation with the Commission and other Federal agencies, was 

 preparing drafting suggestions to be provided to the United 

 Nations Environment Program to assist in preparing a revised 

 draft Protocol for consideration by the Group of Experts in 

 April 1989. 



The area covered by the proposed Protocol includes habitat 

 for the endangered West Indian manatee, the endangered humpback 

 whale, and the Caribbean monk seal, which is thought to be 

 extinct. The Marine Mammal Commission believes that a properly 

 structured Protocol can contribute significantly to the 

 identification and protection of a number of species and 

 habitats critical to their survival in the wider Caribbean 

 region. 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 

 Environmental Protection Agency, the Fish and Wildlife Service, 

 the National Park Service, other Federal agencies, and public 

 interest groups to seek conclusion, adoption, and implementation 

 of a functional Protocol. 



Convention on International Trade 

 in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 



The Convention on International Trade in Endangered 

 Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regulates trade among signatory 

 nations in animals and plants that are or may become threatened 



117 



