V 



III. RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROPOSED FEDERAL ACTION TO 

 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR 



THE ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT 16 



A. Agreements Pertaining to the Antarctic 



Region 16 



B. Agreements Pertaining to the Marine 

 Environment 16 



C. Fisheries Bodies 16 



IV. RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROPOSED FEDERAL ACTION TO 

 DOMESTIC LEGISLATION WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR THE 



ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT 19 



V. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 21 



A. Physical Environment 21 



1. Antarctic Convergence 21 



2. Currents 21 



3. Ice 22 



4. Factors Affecting Primary Production • • 24 



B. Species in the Antarctic Marine Ecosystem . 24 



1. Krill 25 



2. Squid 28 



3. Fish 29 



4. Birds 29 



5. Seals 30 



6. Whales 3 



C. Food Web 31 



D. Areas of Special Biological Importance ... 33 



E. History of Commercial Harvesting 3 4 



1. Whales 34 



2. Seals 34 



3. Fish 35 



4. Krill 35 



5. Penguins 3 6 



F. Scientific Investigation 36 



