MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION — Annual Report for 1991 



monitor trends in marine debris washing ashore at 

 selected National Seashores, (3) an assessment of the 

 capabilities of different types of fisheries observers 

 and existing fisheries observer programs to gather 

 marine debris pollution data; (4) studies to develop 

 new methods of capturing juvenile sea turtles and 

 marine debris along surface convergence zones and to 

 otherwise assess impacts of marine debris on such 

 animals during their pelagic phase; and (5) the pur- 

 chase of equipment necessary for disentangling large 

 whales off the New England coast. 



Domestic Regulations for Disposal of 

 Ship-Generated Garbage 



As noted above, the provisions of Aimex V became 

 binding upon signatory nations, including the United 

 States, on 31 December 1988. To provide the domes 

 tic authority necessary to give effect to its provisions. 

 Congress passed the Plastic Pollution Research and 

 Control Act of 1987. Among other things, the Act 

 amended the existing Act to Prevent Pollution from 

 Ships by granting the Coast Guard authority to 

 enforce regulatory provisions set forth in Annex V for 

 all navigable waters of the United States. 



The Coast Guard immediately began developing 

 regulations under the new authority. Proposed 

 regulations were published in the Federal Register on 

 27 October 1988, interim rules were published on 28 

 April 1989, and most of the interim rules were 

 adopted as final rules on 4 September 1990. The 

 regulations (1) establish discharge limitations for 

 disposal of ship-generated garbage that mirror those in 

 Annex V (Table 12), and (2) require ports to provide 

 adequate port reception facilities for ship-generated 

 garbage returned to port. Commission comments on 

 these rulemaking efforts are discussed in previous 

 Annual Reports. 



During 1991, the regulations implementing Annex 



V were amended to conform with amendments to the 

 Annex, which also became effective this year. As 

 noted in previous Annual Reports, shortly after Annex 



V entered into force late in 1987, the Marine Environ- 

 ment Protection Committee of the International 

 Maritime Organization approved two amendments to 



Annex V. One amendment added the North Sea to 

 the list of Special Areas identified in regulation five of 

 Annex V. The other amendment, proposed by the 

 United States, deletes an exemption from the Aimex 

 that allowed the accidental loss of plastic net frag- 

 ments incidental to at-sea net repair work. 



Both amendments became binding upon signatory 

 nations on 18 February 1991. To make conforming 

 changes in the domestic regulations implementing 

 Aimex V, the Coast Guard published proposed rule 

 changes on 9 January 1991 and final rules on 29 April 

 1991. The new amendments designate the North Sea 

 as a Special Area and eliminate an exemption for the 

 loss of synthetic material incidental to the repair of 

 fishing nets. 



Annex V of the Convention for the 

 Prevention of Pollution from Ships 



The Convention for the Prevention of Pollution 

 from Ships is an international agreement concluded in 

 1973 to provide a cooperative international framework 

 for eliminating intentional and minimizing accidental 

 pollution of the marine environment by ships. A 

 Protocol concluded in 1978 added five aimexes to the 

 Convention. Each Annex sets forth regulations to 

 address a particular form of pollution: Annex I, oil 

 pollution; Annex II, noxious liquid substances carried 

 in bulk; Annex III, harmful substances carried in 

 packaged form or fireight containers; Annex IV, 

 sewage; and Annex V, ship-generated garbage. 



The Marine Environment Protection Committee of 

 the International Maritime Organization is the interna- 

 tional organization responsible for overseeing interna- 

 tional cooperation relative to this Convention. The 

 U.S. Coast Guard serves as lead agency for delega- 

 tions representing the United States at meetings of the 

 Organization and its committees, held periodically in 

 London, England. The following discusses recent 

 U.S. and international efforts relative to Annex V. 



Guidelines for Implementing Annex V 



For the 24th Session of the Marine Environment 

 Protection Committee in February 1987, the Coast 



150 



