MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION — Annual Report for 1991 



Republic of China, the Soviet Union, and the United 

 States — most of the countries bordering on and 

 having principal interest in the North Pacific Ocean. 

 These discussions led to the development of the 

 Convention for a North Pacific Marine Science 

 Organization (PICES). [Note: PICES is included in 

 the formal title of both the Convention and the organi- 

 zation established by the Convention. It is not an 

 acronym.] 



The Convention was concluded in December 1990 

 and will enter into force 60 days after it is ratified by 

 three of the five signatory nations. It provides, 

 among other things, for the establishment of a Gov- 

 erning Council, a Secretariat, and such permanent or 

 ad hoc scientific groups and committees as may be 

 determined necessary by the Council. The purpose of 

 the organization is to promote and coordinate marine 

 scientific research in the North Pacific Ocean and its 

 adjacent seas, much as the International Council for 

 the Exploration of the Sea does in the North Atlantic. 



The Commission believes that an organization, 

 similar to the International Council for the Exploration 

 of the Sea, could be very beneficial and, in consulta- 

 tion with its Committee of Scientific Advisors, provid- 

 ed advice to the Department of State during negotia- 

 tion of the Convention. As noted in the previous 

 section, a workshop was convened by the Commission 

 in December 1990 to assess uncertainties and research 

 needs regarding marine mammals and other aspects of 

 the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. The workshop 

 report was transmitted by the Commission to the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service and the National 

 Science Foundation on 25 July 1991. Among other 

 things, the report noted that, while relevant research 

 is being done by a variety of organizations in this and 

 other countries, the research generally is planned and 

 carried out, and its results analyzed, independently. 

 To address this problem, the Conmiission recommend- 

 ed in its letters transmitting the report that an inter- 

 agency group be constituted to coordinate domestic 

 research programs in the area and that an existing 

 forum (such as the North Pacific Marine Science 

 Organization) be used or a new forum be established 

 to facilitate cooperative planning and coordination of 

 marine research being carried out by the United States 

 and other countries in the area. 



As noted above, the Convention for a North Pacific 

 Marine Science Organization will come into effect 60 

 days after three of the five signatory states have 

 deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, or 

 approval. This is expected to occur early in 1992. 

 To facilitate the work of the Governing Council that 

 will be established when the Convention enters into 

 force, the Commission, as noted in Chapter IX, 

 provided funds to the University of Washington to 

 help support a workshop to review the state of knowl- 

 edge and identify research gaps and priorities in 

 selected fields. The workshop was held at the Nation- 

 al Marine Fisheries Service's Northwest Fisheries 

 Science Center in Seattle, Washington, on 10-13 

 December 1991. Participants included scientific 

 delegafions from Canada, Japan, the People's Repub- 

 lic of China, the Soviet Union, and the United States. 

 A Commission representative attended the workshop 

 as an observer. 



The workshop discussions were focused on four 

 issues: (1) climate change; (2) the Bering Sea; 

 (3) environmental quality; and (4) fishery oceanogra- 

 phy. Information concerning related research being 

 carried out or planned by the various countries was 

 exchanged and discussed. Data gaps and research 

 needed to fill those gaps were identified. 



The workshop report, expected to be completed 

 early in 1992, will be provided to member states to 

 assist in preparing for the first meeting of the organi- 

 zation. The Marine Mammal Commission, in consul- 

 tation with its Committee of Scientific Advisors, will 

 review the report and convey its views on critical 

 research needs and priorities to the U.S. members of 

 the Governing Council. 



lUCN— The World Conseiration Union 



Species Surviyal Commission 



Marine Mammal Specialist Groups 



The World Conservation Union (formerly the 

 International Union for the Conservation of Nature 

 and Natural Resources) Species Survival Commission 

 oversees several groups of specialists concerned with 

 the conservation of marine mammals. In 1991, the 

 Marine Mammal Commission was involved in the 



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