international authorities related to the problem of marine 

 debris; funded studies to document and clean up debris on 

 beaches; provided relevant background information for a global 

 study of the problem by the United Nations Food and Agriculture 

 Organization; brought the problem of marine debris to the 

 attention of parties to the Convention on Conservation of 

 Antarctic Marine Living Resources for responsive action (see 

 Chapter V) ; encouraged the Intergovernmental Oceanographic 

 Commission to develop a manual on procedures for monitoring 

 marine debris; and provided information on the issue to scien- 

 tists and government officials in New Zealand and Australia. 



Domestic Activities in 1988 



During 1988, the Commission focused considerable attention 

 on efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of domestic programs 

 involved in addressing problems created by marine debris. In 

 particular, it continued to work with the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service in developing and implementing the Marine 

 Entanglement Research Program, and participated on a Marine 

 Debris Task Force established by the White House Domestic 

 Policy Council to assess and strengthen the response of Federal 

 agencies to the marine debris problem. 



The U.S. Marine Entanglement Research Program 



As noted earlier, each Fiscal Year since 1985, Congress 

 has appropriated funds to the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 to support efforts to resolve problems created by marine 

 debris. In appropriating funds for this work, Congress also 

 directed that the Service obtain the concurrence of the Marine 

 Mammal Commission on how those funds are to be spent. Thus, 

 in 1985, the Commission, in consultation with the Service, 

 developed a program plan outlining priority tasks to be 

 undertaken during the first year of work. Since 1985, the 

 Service has developed annual recommended program plans which 

 have been reviewed and approved by the Commission. 



Activities supported by the National Marine Fisheries 

 Service to address marine debris problems are carried out 

 through its Marine Entanglement Research Program. For the 

 first year of work, Congress appropriated $1,000,000 in Fiscal 

 Year 1985. For each of Fiscal Years 1986, 1987, and 1988, 

 Congress appropriated $750,000. Actual amounts spent to 

 support the program have been somewhat lower than appropriated 

 levels due to requirements of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 

 Deficit Control Act and other reasons. For example, in Fiscal 

 Year 1988, $685,000 was allocated by the Service for the 

 Marine Entanglement Research Program. 



133 



