In defining a disease entity, it is possible to gernalize from what has been learned about terrestrial animals to their aquatic counterparts. Cellular reactions to pathogens are similar enough that descriptive studies can be conducted with relative success. But in addition to describing the pathologic process, it is equally important to be able to assess the impact that the particular lesion or disease has upon the animal in question. Such an assessment cannot be made without an understanding of how the diseased organ system functions in the non-diseased state. Despite several ongoing research projects being conducted in various parts of the world, there is still a paucity of information concerning the normal behavior and physiology of marine mammals.

There are two primary reasons why this information deficit exists. First is the limited availability of suitable animals and the lack of research facilities. When marine mammals are made available by oceanariums for research purposes, we have been told that the scientist often feels like a fifth wheel since oceanariums are primarily recreational facilities. Limited funding is another reason why so little is known. One cannot blame granting agencies for being reluctant to spend the taxpayers' money on marine mammal research when there are inadequate facilities where such work can be conducted. When facilities are available, data that is based upon a population sample of one or two animals is often statistically meaningless and precludes proper interpretation. Conversely, the investigator will argue that the reason well-designed studies cannot always be conducted is because of inadequate funding. A possible solution to both of these problems is to be found by crossing international boundaries.

Instead of transporting marine mammals to a research laboratory where maintenance can be a logistical and financial nightmare, the investigator should consider the transporting of the research laboratory to where the animals are readily available and to where they can be maintained at relatively low cost. As a consequence, experiments could be better designed and a larger population of animals could be sampled for more meaningful interpretation of the results.

I cannot speak for all areas of the world, but I will briefly summarize some of the advantages of conducting cooperative studies in small developing nations in the Caribbean. First, no less than 12 cetacean species have been identified in the waters of the Lesser Antilles. Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins are routinely harvested by the fisherman on St. Vincent, and occasionally on Grenada. These animals are captured using small gaff rigged sailboats and modified shotguns firing harpoons. A skilled whale collector with a fast boat would be expected to have no great difficulty in getting close enough to capture live animals for research purposes.

The cooperation that one receives in these developing nations is remarkable. In the case of my own research program in St. Vincent, I have been able to enlist the cooperation and assistance of local government agencies including the police, who supervise some of the logistical aspects of the research. Many of these island nations depend upon the sea as a source of food. Consequently, the governments of these nations realize the advantage of bringing people into their countries that have expertise related to the marine environment. In order to attract this expertise to the island, the governments of both St. Vincent and Grenada have agreed to waive the import duty on equipment taken into the island, have exempted investigators from having to have work permits, and have agreed to provide some facilities for conducting the research. The governments of both Grenada and St. Vincent have also granted special permission to enclose lagoons in order to create marine mammal holding facilities. These enclosures could be made out of piled volcanic rocks between which sea water could readily pass. Such enclosures could be cleaned by tidal action so there would be no requirement for pumps and expensive filtration systems. Food fish would be obtainable from the local fishermen at prices that are considerably lower than in the United States. A final advantage is the capability to conduct research year round under almost constant conditions. St. George's University in the Grenadines has established a new campus in St. Vincent, Kingstown College of Marine Sciences, for the express purpose of providing research and training facilities on the island.

There are certain disadvantages that have to be considered. Transportation of equipment and personnel has to be budgeted for. There can sometimes be political complications with the local governments and there can be delays in transporting tissue from endangered species back to the U. S. Al] of these problems are solvable. The cost of transporting equipment and personnel is more than offset by the savings in maintaining experimental animals. Political complications generally occur as a consequence of misunderstandings, but these can usually be resolved by better understanding of the native way of doing things. Delays in transporting tissue can be due to not always knowing the port of entry into the U. S. in sufficient time to notify the appropriate agency. This is not the fault of the agency. It is instead due to the inefficient way in which some of the small airlines in the Caribbean operate. The solution to this particular problem would depend upon the individual circumstances.

Only certain types of research projects are adaptable to the setting that has been described. Especially well suited are investigations concerned with behavior and those that depend upon fresh tissue samples. During 1978 and 1979, a study of the cetacean nervous system was successfully conducted in St. Vincent and Grenada. To be of histologic value, brain tissue must be sampled and preserved within a very short time after the animal's demise. This was possible since fresh brains from a variety of cetacean species were purchased directly from the fisherman when the animals were brought onto the beach for marketing. Fixation and gross examination of the tissue were performed on the island. Permits were acquired with relative ease to enable samples to be sent to the U. S. for histologic study.

Whether the advantages of conducting other types of marine mammal research outside of the United States would be offset by some of the inherent disadvantages would have to be assessed by the investigator. However, the potential for considerable cost reductions and the availability of more meaningful population samples justifies the consideration of cooperative ventures with foreign governments.