Because of the possible direct and indirect effects of 

 fisheries and offshore oil and gas development on marine 

 mammals, the Marine Mammal Commission, since it became 

 operational in 1974, has undertaken a continuing review of 

 matters that might affect the structure and dynamics of the 

 Southern Ocean ecosystem. (Commission activities prior to 

 1982 are described in detail in earlier Commission reports.) 

 The Commission has made numerous recommendations concerning 

 the need for a comprehensive biological and ecological 

 research program in the Southern Ocean, as well as the need 

 for international arrangements to regulate fisheries and 

 offshore oil and gas activities in the Southern Ocean. A 

 brief summary of these activities as well as a description 

 of 1982 activities is provided below. 



Activities Related to Living Resources 



Within its first month of operation in 1974, the 

 Commission helped prepare an environmental impact statement 

 on the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals, 

 and also worked with the Department of State and other 

 agencies to prepare materials which were provided to the 

 Senate for its consideration of the agreement, which was 

 ratified in 1976. 



In 1975, the Commission was asked by the National 

 Science Foundation to review material relating to the 

 conservation of krill in the Southern Ocean. The Commission 

 responded, noting, among other things, that: existing 

 information was inadequate to provide a reliable basis for 

 management decisions; research on various aspects of krill 

 and the iriipacts of a possible krill fishery should be given 

 high priority; attention should be paid to the principle of 

 establishing management regulations prior to exploitation; 

 and all necessary steps should be taken to conclude an 

 effective international agreement to govern any krill fishery. 



In 1976, the Commission, concerned with the lack of 

 progress in addressing the conservation of living resources, 

 recommended to the Department of State that it: (1) promptly 

 undertake a review and re-evaluation of U.S. policy regarding 

 the Antarctic; (2) pursue the development of a policy to 

 conserve the living resources of the Southern Ocean and the 

 development of an international convention to implement that 

 policy; and (3) undertake measures to prepare a draft 

 environmental impact statement in the course of developing 

 the policy and the convention. Throughout 1977, the Commission 

 continued to encourage the Department of State and the 



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