not have significant adverse effects on marine mammals or the 

 ecosystems of which they are a part. To assist the Service, the 

 Commission reviews Environmental Impact Statements for proposed 

 lease sales and provides advice on studies conducted under the 

 Service's Environmental Studies Program. Efforts undertaken in 

 this regard in 1989 are discussed in Chapter IX. 



The Marine Mammal Commission is directed to undertake or 

 cause to be undertaken studies it considers necessary or 

 desirable to protect and conserve marine mammals. The research 

 and studies undertaken in 1989 in response to this directive are 

 described in Chapter X. Other research-related activities, such 

 as the annual survey of Federally-funded marine mammal research 

 and participation in various scientific research program reviews 

 and workshops, also are described in Chapter X. 



Chapters XI and XII discuss regulations governing the care 

 and maintenance of marine mammals in captivity and the process 

 for issuing permits to take marine mammals for scientific 

 research, public display, and enhancement. In 1989, particular 

 attention was devoted to a review of the permit process 

 undertaken by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The 

 Service's review was prompted, in part, by new permitting 

 authority established by the 1988 amendments to the Marine Mammal 

 Protection Act, and by a need to update and streamline the 

 regulations for issuing permits. The Commission provided 

 detailed advice to assist the Service in its effort. 



It is the Marine Mammal Commission's hope that this Report 

 will serve as a useful and reliable reference document for 

 interested individuals and groups in the United States and 

 abroad. 



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