VI. Activities Related to Marine Mammals in the Arctic 139 



Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy 139 



Agreements Related to Polar Bears 142 



Polar Bear Trophy Imports 147 



Agreements Related to Walruses 152 



The Bering Sea Ecosystem 153 



VII. Marine Mammal Strandings and Die-Offs 157 



Unusual Mortality Events in 1995 157 



The Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Networks 158 



Response to Unusual Mortality Events 159 



The Possible Role of Marine Pollution 160 



VIII. Impacts of Marine Debris 161 



Biological Impacts of Marine Debris 161 



Derelict Fishing Gear 162 



The Marine Entanglement Research Program 166 



Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of 



Pollution from Ships 167 



IX. Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Exploration and Development 173 



Proposed Offshore Lease Sales 173 



X. Research and Studies Program 179 



Survey of Federally-Funded Marine Mammal Research 179 



Marine Mammal Workshops and Planning Meetings 179 



Commission-Sponsored Research and Study Projects 180 



XI. Permits and Authorizations to Take Marine Mammals 189 



Implementation of Permit-Related Amendments 189 



Permit Application Review 191 



Permit-Related Litigation 192 



Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate Program 194 



Small-Take Authorizations 198 



XII. Marine Mammals in Captivity 205 



Care and Maintenance Standards 206 



Foreign Facilities 207 



Swim-with-the-Dolphin Programs 208 



Appendix A: Marine Mammal Commission Recommendations in 1995 209 



Appendix B: Reports of Commission-Sponsored Activities Available from the 



National Technical Information Service 219 



Appendix C: Selected Literature Published Elsewhere Resulting from 



Commission-Sponsored Activities 227 



