resulting from an unbalanced sex ratio on some islands are 

 of concern and warrant further investigation; and the 

 ongoing monk seal studies at French Frigate Shoals should 

 be continued inasmuch as they are providing information 

 needed to develop economical assessment and monitoring 

 procedures as well as basic biological and ecological data. 



Participants at the program review noted that funds 

 available to the National Marine Fisheries Service for monk 

 seal work in FY 1983 were totally inadequate to meet even 

 the basic program needs identified by the Hawaiian Monk 

 Seal Recovery Team. In hopes, however, that Congress might 

 see fit to strengthen research and management activities 

 through an increased appropriation, the Commission, in 

 consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, 

 developed a summary of necessary research tasks, listed in 

 order of priority. Fortunately, Appropriations Committees 

 in both the Senate and the House of Representatives agreed 

 on the need for substantially increased funding and, late 

 in December, an additional $150,000 was made available to 

 the Commission for monk seal research and management 

 activities. 



In January and early in February 1983, the Commission 

 will continue its consultations with its Committee of 

 Scientific Advisors, the National Marine Fisheries Service, 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the State of Hawaii to 

 reach agreement on the best possible uses of all available 

 monies. Following agreement, the Commission will invest 

 the $150,000 in clearly described activities to be undertaken 

 within the context of the overall research program. This 

 will be done by an interagency transfer of funds in February 

 1983 to the National Marine Fisheries Service. 



On 28 December 1982, the Commission received the Agency 

 Review Draft of the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Plan 

 prepared by the Monk Seal Recovery Team under the aegis of 

 the National Marine Fisheries Service. The plan will be 

 reviewed by the Commission in consultation with its 

 Committee of Scientific Advisors in January 1983 and 

 comments provided to the Service shortly thereafter. 



- 56 - 



