B-8 



At the very minimum, our posture should be to insist upon 

 a conservative approach towards the protection of these resources, 



If there is to be utilization, then let us do what we 

 can to assure the long term viability of the resource base. 



Tied in with and perhaps basic to this position is that 

 of advocating the principle of optimum, rather than maximum 

 sustainable yield. 



Granted, there are real and difficult problems in de- 

 fining the output yield in general, but nevertheless it is 

 the best means of insuring prior recognition of the possibil- 

 ity of indirect adverse effects of exploitation. 



Then certainly, any utilization of krill, for example, 

 must be done with one eye on the impact of such activity on 

 the sea bird population. Not only has that population an in- 

 trinsic value of its own, it may well serve as a vital 

 nutrient transfer mechanism that recycles krill into the 

 nutrients that keep the whole system producing. 



The need to have these ecological considerations in the 

 forefront of the decisionmaking process is underscored 

 by the fact that the Antarctic Ocean ... is characterized 

 by few species but vast numbers of individuals. 



In these situations, population dynamics take on proper- 

 ties different than those expected in more temperate climes 

 where there may be a greater diversity of species. The 

 level at which exploitation can be expected to be sustained 

 is apt to be underestimated in the presence of great num- 

 bers of individuals, as in the case of the euphausia. 



In America in particular, with its history of wanton de- 

 struction of the bison, the passenger pigeon -- to name only 

 two species — we should be all too sensitive to the need 

 to approach utilization with consummate care. 



At present, the nations signatory to the Antarctic Treaty 

 are essentially the only ones involved in the decisionmaking 

 process as it relates to the living marine resources. History 

 has shown time and again ^nat it is imperative to gain the 

 support of all those whose support will ultimately be needed 

 in a program, by enlisting them in the planning process at the 

 earliest practicable da.e. 



Therefore, it seems apparent that steps should immedi- 

 ately be taken to bring into the purview of the protocol 



