Research Activities 



During 1982, the Commission corresponded with the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service in an effort to contribute 

 to the development of an effective research and development 

 program to resolve uncertainties relating to the status and 

 trends of Dall's porpoise and to reduce the incidental take 

 rate . 



On 4 March 1982, the Commission wrote to the Service 

 setting forth questions, comments, and recommendations 

 relating to research plans and preparations for the 

 forthcoming discussions with the Japanese. In summary, the 

 Commission requested a copy of the proposed research plan 

 for review and comment; recommended increased observer 

 coverage of Japanese fishing operations; requested 

 information on the Service's budget and the responsibility 

 of the Japanese to conduct and/or fund those activities; 

 recommended clarification of the relationship between the 

 permit and Memorandum of Understanding; and recommended 

 that a negotiating position be prepared for review and 

 comment in preparation for the discussions with the Japanese. 



The Service responded to the Commission by letters of 

 10 March and 13 April 1982 indicating, among other things, 

 that it believed the current level of observer coverage 

 provided sufficiently reliable estimates of incidental take 

 and enclosing a proposed research plan for 1982. The major 

 portion of this plan described proposed research on 

 reproductive rates to be conducted in 1982 utilizing the 

 dedicated vessel provided by the Japanese in accordance with 

 the provisions of the Memorandum. With respect to the 

 negotiating position for discussions with the Japanese, the 

 Service indicated that the results of the meeting of U.S. 

 and Japanese scientists would be provided to each government 

 and, once both governments were in full agreement on the 

 1982 research program, then an exchange of letters and an 

 agreement consistent with the Memorandum would occur. With 

 the exception of the review of the permit application to 

 conduct reproductive studies, discussed below, the Commission 

 was not consulted further on the results of the meeting of 

 scientists or the United States' position. 



On 17 February 1982, the Commission received from the 

 Service an application for a scientific research permit by 

 the Service's Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center to kill 

 by harpooning up to 960 Dall's porpoise over a five-year 

 period. The proposed research was designed to resolve 

 questions about the reproductive rate of Dall's porpoise 

 and was to be conducted utilizing a dedicated research 



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