Coincidentally, also on 5 October 1989, the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service provided additional population data and other 

 information to the Fish and Wildlife Service in support of the 

 proposed listing. Nevertheless, it requested that its proposal 

 be withdrawn to allow more time for reviewing unresolved concerns 

 as to whether and under which Appendix a listing would be 

 appropriate and to consult with interested groups and indivi- 

 duals. In response, the Fish and Wildlife Service informed the 

 CITES Secretariat that it was withdrawing the fur seal proposal. 



On 12 December 1989, the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 responded to the Commission's 5 October letter. In its response, 

 the Service stated that there have been no significant changes in 

 population parameters since its 1988 determination and that no 

 additional reports or workshops are needed until its fur seal 

 conservation plan is completed. The Service indicated that it 

 was considering the possibility of proposing an Appendix III 

 listing, but that it would, as the Commission had recommended, 

 consult with interested parties before taking any action. In 

 addition, the Service explained that, because the Appendix II 

 proposal was not withdrawn until just before the Conference of 

 Parties meeting, most parties came prepared to vote on it. 



As noted in the previous Annual Report, in 1986 the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service suggested to the Fish and Wildlife 

 Service that the United States submit a proposal to the Sixth 

 Conference to delete northern elephant seals (Mirounga 

 anqustirostris ) from Appendix II. This proposal was not put 

 forward by the U.S. delegation, nor was it raised by other 

 delegations during the Sixth Session. Because there is no known 

 international trade in this species, the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service again in 1989 recommended the deletion of 

 northern elephant seals from Appendix II. The species occurs in 

 Mexico as well as in the United States and, during the Seventh 

 Session, Mexico's Director General of Ecological Conservation and 

 Natural Resources expressed opposition to delisting. Therefore, 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service chose not to propose the delisting. 



The Convention for the Protection and 



Development of the Marine Environment of the 



Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) 



The Convention for the Protection and Development of the 

 Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, commonly known 

 as the Cartagena Convention, is part of the Caribbean Environment 

 Program, one of eleven Regional Seas Programs developed and 

 sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program. Regional 

 Seas Programs seek to protect marine resources and habitats that 

 are vulnerable to human activities by encouraging regional 

 nations to commit financial and human resources to cooperative 

 research and management programs. Each Regional Seas Program 



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