This document reviews the current state of knowledge about St. Lawrence belugas, recommends a series of actions for ensuring their survival and proposes an implementation schedule. The goal of the Recovery Plan is to bring population numbers and conditions to a state where natural event and human activities will not threaten the survival of the St. Lawrence beluga whale population. A subsidiary goal is to improve the status from endangered to vulnerable, as defined by COSEWIC.

"Reviewed by the St. Lawrence Beluga Recovery Committee."

"The information in this document comes from the regular programs of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the following special programs: St. Lawrence Vision 2000 Action Plan, DFO Toxic Chemicals Program, Program of Energy Research and Development"--P. [4] of cover.

'Erich Hoyt's handbook is an admirable, timely and highly welcome contribution.'Michael Stachowitsch, Marine EcologyWhat does it mean to save the whales if their habitat is left unprotected? Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises is the definitive handbook on this pressing issue and the first to bridge the gap between the disciplines of marine protected areas and cetacean conservation. It launches a new chapter in cetacean conservation with its investigation into the crucial habitat needs and protection requirements of some 84 species.The author, one of the world's foremost experts in this field, takes you around the world to investigate the promising results of the latest conservation research and the strategies for obtaining marine protected areas in coastal waters and on the high seas, using national legislation and regional and international conventions. This is an essential introduction, guide and reference work for those working to ensure a future for whales and dolphins.

In this landmark new work, the major authorities in the field from around the world present a wealth of research data, coverage of regulatory issues, and thinking about the effects of man-made noise on marine mammals, turtles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates. The various themes of the book were chosen to cover the wide range of basic and cutting edge information on this topic. They include the hearing abilities of aquatic animals; communication by means of underwater sound; the description of aquatic soundscapes; different sound sources and their characteristics; the effects of sound on behavior; and assessing, mitigating, and monitoring the effects of aquatic noise. Emphasis is on the cross-fertilization of ideas and findings across species and noise sources. With over 140 contributions from leading researchers, the sources of underwater sound and their effects are discussed in detail.

This annual publication describes major developments affecting the commercial fisheries of OECD countries, including government policy and action, and developments in production, processing, marketing and international trade.