MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION — Annual Report for 1992 
penguins) at a network of sites throughout the Antarc- 
tic; (2) comprehensive studies of krill, krill predators, 
and environmental variables in three integrated study 
areas (Prydz Bay, the Bransfield Strait, and the area 
around South Georgia Island); and (3) directed studies 
of crabeater seals — one of the Antarctic marine 
ecosystem’s principal krill consumers — in one or 
more pack ice areas. The working group also pre- 
pared a manual published by the Secretariat on 
standard methods for collecting and reporting moni- 
toring data. 
The working group met in Vina del Mar, Chile, 
from 12-21 August 1992. The report from the 
meeting was considered by both the Scientific Com- 
mittee and the Commission. It noted the working 
group’s continuing concern that most krill fishing in 
the Antarctic was being done within the foraging 
ranges of land-breeding birds and seals at the time of 
year (December through February) when these krill- 
eating predators are rearing offspring. The report 
also noted that available data and ongoing monitoring 
programs are insufficient to predict or to detect the 
effects of the krill fishery on these krill-dependent 
predators. The report indicated that given the uncer- 
tainties, it would be appropriate as a precautionary 
measure, to prohibit krill fishing within the foraging 
ranges of land-breeding krill predators (up to 50 km 
for penguins and 80-100 km for fur seals) at the time 
of the year that they are rearing offspring. 
Most, but not all, members of the Scientific 
Committee and Commission thought that it would be 
highly desirable to prohibit krill fishing in the vicinity 
of fur seal and Adelie and chinstrap penguin breeding 
colonies during the breeding season, except in cases 
where the breeding colonies are being monitored as 
part of the Ecosystem Monitoring Program. Japan 
and other krill-fishing nations believed that the 1.5- 
million metric ton limit on krill catches in statistical 
area 48 provided adequate assurance that krill preda- 
tors would not be affected adversely by the fishery 
and that the proposed time and area closures would 
unnecessarily restrict fishing. To help resolve these 
differing viewpoints, the Secretariat was asked to 
undertake a simulation analysis, prior to the 1993 
meeting of the working group, to examine the possible 
effects on the krill fishery of subdividing statistical 
area 48.1 and closing one or more subdivisions 
142 
simultaneously and in rotation to protect land-breeding 
krill predators. 
On a related point, the Scientific Committee noted 
that available data and monitoring programs were 
insufficient to predict or detect the effects of the krill 
fishery on crabeater seals breeding on pack ice and 
that the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research 
Group of Specialists on Antarctic Seals had proposed 
a workshop to plan a coordinated, multi-national 
research initiative on Antarctic ice-breeding seals. 
The Scientific Committee recommended that the Com- 
Mission support the proposal, and the Commission 
endorsed the recommendation. 
U.S. Antarctic Marine 
Living Resources Research Program 
The Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention 
Act of 1984 provides the domestic authority necessary 
for the United States to implement the Convention on 
the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resourc- 
es. Among other things, the Act directs that the 
National Science Foundation continue to support basic 
marine research in the Antarctic and that the Secretary 
of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of 
State, the Director of the National Science Founda- 
tion, and appropriate officials of other Federal agen- 
cies, such as the Marine Mammal Commission, 
prepare, implement, and annually update a plan for 
directed research necessary to effectively implement 
the Convention. The Secretary of Commerce has 
delegated authority to the National Marine Fisheries 
Service and the Service has prepared and begun 
implementing a directed research plan as mandated. 
The plan was developed in consultation with the 
National Science Foundation, the Marine Mammal 
Commission, other Federal agencies, knowledgeable 
scientists in the United States and abroad, representa- 
tives of the U.S. fishing industry, and representatives 
of U.S. environmental groups. Responsibility for 
carrying out the directed research program initially 
was given to the Narragansett Laboratory of the 
National Marine Fisheries Service’s Northeast Fisher- 
ies Science Center. In 1989, program responsibility 
was transferred to the Service’s Southwest Fisheries 
Science Center. 
