members have begun implementing a long-range program plan 

 with three major components: (1) monitoring of represen- 

 tative krill predators (e.g., crabeater seals, Antarctic fur 

 seals, and Adelie, chinstrap, and macaroni penguins) at a 

 network of sites throughout the Antarctic; (2) comprehensive 

 studies of krill, krill predators, and related environmental 

 variables in three "integrated study areas" (Prydz Bay, the 

 Bransfield Strait, and the area around South Georgia Island); 

 and (3) basic studies of the demography and dynamics of 

 crabeater seals in one or more pack ice areas. The Working 

 Group also has taken steps to develop standard methods for 

 collecting and formats for reporting various types of predator, 

 prey, and environmental data. 



During the 1987 meeting of the Scientific Committee, it 

 was noted that the utility of the network of land-based study 

 sites being established as part of the Ecosystem Monitoring 

 Program could be compromised by other activities being conducted 

 in or near the study sites. The Committee therefore reguested 

 that the Commission establish procedures for registering and 

 protecting land-based study sites. This reguest was considered 

 at the 1988 meeting of the Commission, and Members generally 

 agreed that such a mechanism was desirable. Members could 

 not agree on a mechanism, however, primarily due to 

 uncertainties as to how to consult other components of the 

 Antarctic Treaty system to insure that measures taken by the 

 Commission to protect land-based study sites do not adversely 

 affect, and are not adversely affected by, actions taken by 

 the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties and the Contracting 

 Parties to the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic 

 Seals and the Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral 

 Resource Activities (see below) . 



It was agreed that the Commission would give further 

 consideration to ways of protecting land-based ecosystem 

 monitoring sites at its next meeting. It also was agreed 

 that the Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring would meet in 

 1989 to review and identify steps that can be taken to improve 

 the design and implementation of the Ecosystem Monitoring 

 Program. 



Development of a Conservation Strategy ; There is no 

 established precedent to the ecosystem-oriented conservation 

 standard set forth in Article II of the Convention on Conser- 

 vation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Therefore, at 

 its meeting in 1986, the Commission established under the 

 Convention formed a Working Group to assist in considering 

 and identifying steps that could be taken to facilitate 

 implementation of the ecosystem-oriented management approach 

 mandated by Article II. As noted in the Marine Mammal 

 Commission's previous Annual Report, this Working Group met 

 in 1987 and agreed to focus its efforts initially on development 



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