regulate vessel routing and maneuvering in areas inhabited 
by whales; develop guidelines prohibiting pursuit and willful 
or persistent disturbance of whales; initiate a public 
education effort; continue efforts to monitor the humpback 
whale population and whale-vessel interactions; and start 
research to (1) characterize the food and feeding behavior 
of humpback whales in Glacier Bay and other areas, (2) study 
the acoustic characteristics of vessels in the Bay and other 
areas to identify equipment and/or modes of operation which 
elicit response from the whales, and (3) compare behavioral 
responses of the humpbacks to vessels in Glacier Bay with 
those observed in other areas of southeast Alaska. 
On 17 December 1979, the Commission advised the National 
Marine Fisheries Service that it concurred with the findings 
and conclusions set forth in the 3 December letter to the 
National Park Service, and recommended that the Service 
elaborate on certain of its recommendations so as to distinguish 
between recommended regulations and general guidelines for 
boating activity in Glacier Bay and to provide the Park 
Service with a more detailed description of needed research 
projects. 
On 2 January 1980, the National Marine Fisheries Service 
answered the Commission's 17 December letter by noting that 
the National Park Service found the recommendations as made 
to be sufficiently clear to initiate the necessary management 
and research program and that it would continue to work with 
the National Park Service to develop the most cost-effective 
research and management program. Finally, the Service noted 
that the Commission's draft report on the 12-13 October 
meeting had been useful to both agencies in conducting the 
"Section 7" consultation and in program development. 
On 18 January, the Commission wrote the National Marine 
Fisheries Service expressing continued uncertainty and 
asking for clarification as to what was meant by "general 
guidelines" and why these would offer better enforceability 
and compliance than would regulations. The Service resolved 
the Commission's uncertainties on 11 March when it wrote 
that its recommendation concerning guidelines was directed 
to the National Park Service with the understanding that it 
would be translated into regulations for controlling vessel 
activities in the Bay. 
On 6 March 1980 the National Park Service published 
proposed regulations and on 15 May published final regulations 
for protecting humpback whales in the Glacier Bay National 
Monument. 
