the possible adverse effects of development and development- 
related activities. Likewise, baseline information and on- 
going monitoring programs are insufficient to detect the 
possible adverse effects of development and development- 
related activities before they reach significant levels. 
Therefore, Tt will“be*difficult;-Le not impossible; *toe 
achieve the purposes of either the living resources convention 
or a non-living resources regime if existing research programs 
and research capabilities are not expanded substantially. 
In December 1978, the Commission recommended to the 
National Science Foundation, the agency responsible for the 
management of the U.S. Antarctic Research Program, that, 
among other things, the Foundation constitute one or more 
groups of experts to provide advice concerning the nature of 
research programs and capabilities needed to assess and 
monitor the possible direct and indirect effects of resource- 
related activities in the Antarctic (see pp. 57-61 in the 
Commission's Annual Report for 1979). 
The recommendations were eventually met when the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National 
Science Foundation joined the Commission in providing support 
for the National Academy of Sciences Polar Research and 
Ocean Affairs Boards to form a committee to evaluate and 
make recommendations regarding marine ecosystem research in 
the Antarctic. In 1980, the Academy's committee, under the 
chairmanship of Dr. John H. Steele (Director of the Woods 
Hole Oceanographic Institution), met a number of times to 
review and evaluate marine ecosystem research in the Antarctic, 
and its report is expected in the summer of 1981. This 
report and related information being developed by the agencies 
will be used to identify the research programs and research 
capability needed to meet U. S. interests and to take advantage 
of unique research opportunities in the Antarctic. 
