EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
This is the 20th Annual Report of the Marine Mammal Commission and its 
Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals. The Commission was established 
under Title II of the Marine Mammal Protection Act to provide an independent source of 
guidance on Federal activities and policies, both domestic and international, affecting marine 
mammal protection and conservation. Members of the Commission, its Committee of 
Scientific Advisors, and staff in 1992 are listed in Chapter I as is information on recent 
funding levels. 
The purpose of the Annual Report is to provide timely information on important 
marine mammal conservation issues and events to Congress and to responsible Federal and 
state agencies, public interest groups, the academic community, private citizens, and the 
international community. When combined with previous reports, it provides a historical 
record with which to track and evaluate progress in identifying and resolving issues related 
to the conservation of marine mammals. To ensure factual accuracy, the report is provided 
to relevant Federal and state agencies and other involved parties for review and comment 
prior to publication. A brief review of the report’s contents is provided below. 
Amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (Chapter IT) 
Congress periodically reviews the Marine Mammal Protection Act in light of past 
experience and perceived needs. The reviews are often part of the Congressional process 
to reauthorize the legislation. At the last such review in 1988, Congress reauthorized the 
Act through 30 September 1993. The major amendments of 1988, those enacted in 1992, 
and the major issue to be raised during reauthorization in 1993 are described in this chapter. 
Species of Special Concern (Chapter ITI) 
Each year, the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific 
Advisors devote particular attention to marine mammal species or populations that are or 
may be in jeopardy. Chapter III describes efforts to conserve: sea otters in California and 
Alaska; Steller sea lions; Hawaiian monk seals; harbor seals; northern fur seals; Pacific 
walruses; northern right whales; humpback whales; gray whales; bowhead whales; harbor 
porpoises; vaquitas or Gulf of California harbor porpoises; bottlenose dolphins; killer 
whales; and polar bears. Activities related to West Indian manatees, Hawaiian monk seals, 
vaquitas, and gray whales are summarized below. 
West Indian Manatees — The manatee population in Florida and Georgia is one of 
the most endangered marine mammal populations in United States waters. It continues to 
