Experiments were conducted to study the photochemical 

 decomposition of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's). For 

 example, only a 3-hour exposure to sunlight of benzo(a)pyrene 

 already showed a significant quantitative breakdown of this 

 carcinogenic chemical. 



From the results of these studies, and from previous 

 estimates of the accumulation of these compounds in the 

 marine ecosystem, one needs to determine in detail the intensity 

 of microbial destruction of pollutants; establish a "critical" 

 concentration of individual pollutants that affect the ecological 

 system; and study factors that affect important processes of the 

 ecosystem. For example, the new formation of organic pollutants 

 from the metabolic activity of microorganisms should be 

 examined. 



During the period of the expedition, joint American- 

 Soviet experiments were conducted. Preliminary results of 

 these experiments allowed us to assess the range of "critical" 

 concentrations of pollutants for microzooplankton in the Bering 

 and Chukchi Seas. The range varied as follows: 

 Benzo(a)pyrene 0.1-1 |ig/l 



Copper 2-8 ng/1 



PCB 10-40 ng/1 



Cadmium 20-40 [ig/l 



It is important to note that the established critical 

 concentrations were l.OOOx higher that those found in natural 

 seawater. 



With the results of the joint, multidisciplinary experiments, 

 we have demonstrated that separate combinations of low 

 concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus, which were typical 

 for natural for natural water masses, not only do not stimulate 

 but inhibit the growth of plankton communities. 



Most of the collected biological and chemical samples 

 during the expedition need a prolonged series of studies in a 

 laboratory with special equipment and instrumentation for 

 final results to be obtained. However, even incomplete 

 preliminary results obtained on board the ship, allowed us to 

 assess the ecological structure and function in the Bering and 

 Chukchi Seas as being intact, with both of these areas 

 remaining as highly productive as any region in the World 

 Ocean. 



Altogether, the distribution of chlorinated hydrocarbons 

 (PCB, biphenyls, HCH) observed in the surface waters of these 

 seas were probably transported by global atmospheric processes. 



At the end of the Joint Expedition on board the Akademik 

 Korolev. there was an exchange of preliminary data. The future 



exchange of the joint analysis of data between American and 

 Soviet scientists will occur in a series of three exchanges: 

 /. 1 March 1988; 2. 1 June 1988; and 3. 1 October 1989. 



The two sides had agreed that the obtained data and results 

 of the analyses belong to both sides. Any publications based on 

 these materials should indicate that the results were generated 

 during the Third Joint US-USSR Bering & Chukchi Seas 

 Expedition. Both sides considered it useful to prepare and 

 publish the joint manuscript containing the final analysis of the 

 American-Soviet research of the 1 988 Expedition to the Bering 

 and Chukchi Seas. 



American and Soviet participants expressed their interest 

 in further development of joint research and consider it 

 worthwhile to carry out further joint expeditions aimed to the 

 fundamental studies of the ecological situation and the 

 oceanographic regimes of the Bering and Chukchi Seas. 

 Separate proposals for future joint research should be considered 

 by the appropriate institutions in the respective countries. With 

 this aim, the participants of the Third Joint US-USSR Bering 

 & Chukchi Seas Expedition recommended that planning begin 

 for the Fourth US-USSR Expedition to the Bering & Chukchi 

 Seas, and the central Pacific Ocean in 1990. It is recommended 

 also by the American-Soviet participants that a joint five-year 

 program of ecological and oceanographic investigations for 

 the Bering and Chukchi Seas will be jointly developed and 

 published during 1989. 



Both sides note with satisfaction the friendly and 

 constructive atmosphere of the expedition's work and the 

 effectiveness of joint observations allowing for a variety of 

 oceanographic and ecological studies. 



The American delegation would like to express their 

 sincerest thanks and gratitude to the Captain and crew of the 

 Akademik Korolev for their hospitality and cooperativeness. 



The American delegation thanks the Soviet delegation for 

 providing an atmosphere of mutual respect, productive 

 collaboration, and fruitful exchange of data. The associations 

 established on this cruise will result in the exchange of data and 

 information for many years to come. 



The Soviet participants of the expedition express their 

 sincere gratitude and thanks to the American specialists for the 

 fruitful and productive cooperation during the joint 

 investigations of the Bering and Chukchi Seas. 



This protocol was written in English and Russian and was 

 signed on board the research vessel Akademik Korolev, 

 2 September 1988. Both texts are equally authentic. 



For American side: 



The Leader of Project for the 



American Side 

 Director, 



Patuxent Wildlife Research Center 

 US Fish and Wildlife Service 

 US Department of the Interior 



For Soviet side: 



Head of Expedition 



The Leader of the Project 

 for the USSR Side 



Deputy Director of Laboratory for 



Environmental and Climate Monitoring 

 Laboratory, Goskomgidromet 

 and USSR Academy of Sciences 



Mr. H. J. O'Connor Professor A. V. Tsyban 



(This text is a reproduction of the protocol written on board the RA' Akademik Korolev in 1 988. The original was signed by both project leaders.) 



vii 



