possible advantage of the work being done by other agencies. 

 Subsequently, the Commission reviewed and, by letter of 30 

 August 1982, suggested steps that could be taken by the 

 Pacific OCS Office and the Fish and Wildlife Service to 

 facilitate development of an interagency agreement concerning 

 needed sea otter studies. 



Workshop on Effects of OCS Development in the Gulf of Mexico 



In response to the aforementioned types of uncertainties 

 concerning the possible effects of offshore oil and gas 

 development on marine mammals and other wildlife in the 

 Gulf of Mexico, the Minerals Management Service contracted 

 with the Fish and Wildlife Service early in 1982 to organize 

 and convene a Workshop on the Effects of Offshore Oil and 

 Gas Development on Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles in the 

 Gulf of Mexico. The goals of the workshop were to identify: 



(1) ways in which cetaceans and sea turtles have been or 

 could be affected, either directly or indirectly, by activities 

 and events associated with offshore oil and gas development; 



(2) the types and specificity of data needed to predict, 

 detect, and mitigate possible adverse effects; (3) the 

 advantages and disadvantages of various methods that could 

 be used to obtain needed data; and (4) specific research and 

 monitoring programs which would be required to obtain needed 

 data, including the necessary expertise, level of effort, 

 equipment, and facilities. 



The Commission helped plan and participated in the 

 workshop, which was held in Biloxi, Mississippi, on 6-8 April 

 19 82. Participants, representing a number of Federal and 

 state agencies, research institutions, and private organizations, 

 reviewed available information and concluded, among other 

 things, that additional surveys and behavior studies were 

 needed to assess the possible effects of OCS development on 

 marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico and that the studies 

 should focus on assessing and monitoring local populations 

 or subpopulations of bottlenose dolphins. Participants 

 recommended that: a program be developed to monitor selected 

 dolphin populations at periodic intervals; the existing marine 

 mammal stranding network in the Gulf of Mexico be expanded; 

 and every effort be made to coordinate related programs 

 being conducted and planned by the National Marine Fisheries 

 Service and the Minerals Management Service. 



The final workshop report, expected to be completed early 

 in 1983, will be reviewed by the Commission, in consultation 

 with its Committee of Scientific Advisors, to determine whether 

 additional steps may be needed to facilitate planning and 

 coordination of marine mammal studies in the Gulf of Mexico. 



- 74 - 



