Chapter VI — The Arctic 



Ocean and eastern Bering Sea. This led to formation 

 of the North Pacific Universities Marine Mammal 

 Research Consortium. Members are the University of 

 Alaska, University of British Columbia, University of 

 Washington, and Oregon State University. 



In 1993 the North Pacific Marine Science Founda- 

 tion was formed to seek and manage funding. Re- 

 search and management committees were established 

 to provide oversight. A five-year research plan was 

 completed in January 1993. The plan includes a 

 balance of short- and long-term projects designed to 

 test various hypothesis concerning the possible cause 

 or causes of the Steller sea lion decline (e.g., nutri- 

 tional stress, disease, pollution, intentional shooting, 

 and incidental take in fisheries). 



The Commission provided a small amount of 

 funding in 1993 to help pay initial administrative 

 costs. Since then, funding has been provided by a 

 broad range of fishing boat owners, fish processors, 

 and related organizations. The program is expected 

 to be continued at least through 1996. 



[Information concerning the Consortium and its 

 marine mammal research program can be obtained 

 from the Chairman, North Pacific Universities Marine 

 Mammal Research Consortium, Fisheries Center, 

 University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., 

 Canada V6T 1Z4\. 



National Academy of Sciences Study 



As noted in previous Marine Mammal Commis- 

 sion's reports, the Department of State provided funds 

 in 1992 to the National Academy of Sciences' Polar 

 Research Board to undertake a comprehensive review 

 and evaluation of information concerning the Bering 

 Sea ecosystem. The Polar Research Board established 

 a special committee to undertake the review. The 

 committee includes experts in oceanography, fisheries 

 biology and management, marine mammals, seabirds, 

 socioeconomics, and marine policy. 



The Committee met several times in 1993, 1994, 

 and 1995. During an organizational meeting in June 

 1993, a Marine Mammal Commission representative 

 reviewed Commission-sponsored reports bearing on 

 the conservation of marine mammals and their habitat 

 in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. 



The Committee's report is expected to be complet- 

 ed and published early in 1996. The Commission 

 expects that the report will provide a thorough and 

 objective assessment of the factors possibly responsi- 

 ble for the observed changes in marine mammals, 

 seabirds, and other components of the Bering Sea 

 ecosystem. 



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