(from "Chair's Report of the 54th Annual Meeting")

13.1 Co-operative research in the Antarctic
13.1.1 Report of the Scientific Committee
The SOWER 2000 programme²⁷ is designed to examine the influence of temporal and spatial variability in the physical and biological Antarctic environment on the distribution, abundance and migration of whales. It is being carried out in collaboration with CCAMLR and Southern Ocean GLOBEC (SO-GLOBEC)

In 2000, the IWC collaborated with CCAMLR in a series of cruises, whilst beginning in 2001, a multi-year series of collaborative research cruises began with SO-GLOBEC. The cruises are multidisciplinary and comprise standard mooring cruises, line transect surveys over a constant grid, and process studies at selected locations. The Committee reviewed the research undertaken so far including results for the cetacean visual, biopsy and sonobuoy studies.

The following activity was endorsed in principle by the Committee subject to Commission funding: one dedicated multidisciplinary survey per season for at least the next five years consisting of visual survey, biopsy sampling and fine scale ecological studies, including passive acoustics work. It was noted that a contribution of £25,000 per year would be a minimum amount of support to continue the partnership of the IWC with SO-GLOBEC and CCAMLR. The Committee also recognised the need for the development of a standardised data collection protocol for sea-ice observations. This will be discussed further next year.

13.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising
Japan noted the large amount of money being spent on co-operative research with CCAMLR and SO-GLOBEC in the Antarctic, the objectives of which it found unclear. It indicated that it supports studies elucidating the environmental conditions in the Antarctic, but cautioned that unfocused studies could cause delay. It expressed the hope that the future work planned would only be implemented after its objectives are clarified.

13.2 POLLUTION 2000+
13.2.1 Report of the Scientific Committee
The POLLUTION 2000+²⁸ was developed over several years and has two primary aims: to determine whether predictive and quantitative relationships exist between biomarkers (of exposure to and/or effect of PCBs) and PCB levels in certain tissues; and to validate/calibrate sampling and analytical techniques. Given the fundamental nature of this research, it was agreed to focus to begin with on those species and regions for which there was the most likely chance of success. Although initially, therefore, the work is aimed at certain populations of bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises, the results will be of relevance to studies of large whales and other cetaceans. Completion of POLLUTION 2000+ will lead to the development of a valuable model concept for ecotoxicological research on all cetaceans and other animal species.

Phase 1 of POLLUTION 2000+ is approximately 80% complete. Finalising the harbour porpoise post-mortem calibration sub-project and the bottlenose dolphin sub-project is considered to be of high importance and funding requirements for this are considered elsewhere.

13.2.2 Commission discussions and action arising
Japan indicated that it has an interest in chemical pollutants and their effects on humans and threats to cetaceans but expressed concern about IWC spending large amounts of time and money on an issue that it considers secondary to the main purpose of the organisation's objectives. It noted that since it appears that the POLLUTION 2000+ work is limited to small cetaceans, the funds used should come only from the small cetaceans fund. Japan considered that the primary work of the Scientific Committee to evaluate cetacean resources is being delayed by the large amount of environmental work taken on, work that in its view should be done by other fora.

The UK considered the POLLUTION 2000+ to be vital and within the competence of the IWC. It congratulated the Scientific Committee for its activities. It believed that the work should be of interest to all member countries, particularly those where whale meat is consumed. The USA and Germany associated themselves with these remarks.

The Chair of the Scientific Committee informed the Commission that the pollution studies had been subject to severe cuts and now formed an inconsequential part of the Committee's budget. She expressed the hope that member countries would volunteer to fund some of the needed work.

The Commission noted the Scientific Committee's report and accepted its recommendations.

13.3 Habitat-related issues
13.3.1 Report of the Scientific Committee
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CETACEANS AND FISHERIES
In accord with Resolution 2001-9²⁹, the Committee had developed plans to hold a methodological/modelling workshop to examine interactions between whales and fish stocks. Details were developed by a steering group comprising scientists from Japan, Norway, the UK, the USA and the Secretariat. It had been hoped to hold the meeting in February 2002 and the Government of St Lucia had generously agreed to host the workshop. As circulated to the Committee in November, it was not possible for a sufficient number of the experts identified by the Steering Group to attend in February and new dates in the period mid-late June were proposed. The precise new dates were agreed by the Steering Group in December. However, in late April, the Government of St Lucia informed the Secretariat that it was unable to host the meeting. A request was then sent out to Contracting Governments to find an alternative venue at this late stage. The only reply received was the offer of the USA to host the meeting in La Jolla, California. This was gratefully accepted for the precise dates agreed by the Steering Group in December. One of the advantages of St. Lucia as a venue was to encourage the participation of scientists from developing countries. The Committee drew this to the attention of the Commission so that it could consider providing additional funding to support travel of scientists from developing countries to the specialist workshop in La Jolla.

Towards the end of the Scientific Committee meeting, one of the Japanese delegates had noted that the proposed changes in venue and timing for the workshop were problematic. He expressed the view that the workshop should be held in either Japan or Norway since these countries have large amounts of relevant data. He also noted that the proposed dates conflict with other obligations for Japanese scientists.

The Chair had responded that this was a short specialist workshop to address methodological/modelling concerns; hosting the workshop where there are considerable data holdings was thus not important. She also noted that the precise change in dates had been approved by the workshop's Steering Group, which included a Japanese scientist, in December 2001 and no complaints had been received until late (7 May 2002) in the Committee's annual meeting. The IWC Secretariat had been forced to request an alternative venue as late as 22 April and the only response received was from La Jolla (California, USA).

STATE OF THE CETACEAN ENVIRONMENT REPORT (SOCER)
The Committee agreed that a working group would produce a preliminary draft SOCER report for its consideration at the next meeting. It will be a first attempt at producing the form and compilation process of a report that will be developed over the years into an objective product with an easily followed submission process. The ultimate objective is to provide Commissioners (in response to Resolution 2000-7³⁰) and other interested parties with a non-technical periodic summary of the positive and negative events, developments and conditions in the marine environment that are relevant to cetaceans.

WORKSHOP ON HABITAT DEGREDATION
The Committee had developed plans for a workshop on habitat degradation over some years³¹. It had been identified as an issue of priority by the ACCOBAMS (Agreement for the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black and Mediterranean Seas) Parties. The Committee noted that this was still of interest but was not high on the priority list given the funding difficulties for its overall budget.

13.3.2 Commission discussions and action arising
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CETACEANS AND FISHERIES
The Commission's discussions focused mainly on the workshop on interactions between cetaceans and fisheries. While it appreciated the generous offer made at short notice by the USA to host the workshop, Norway considered it extremely important that those countries conducting serious research on this issue should be able to participate. It therefore suggested that the workshop be postponed to a more convenient time, but prior to the next Annual Meeting. Japan agreed, noting that its scientists have other duties that prevent them attending the workshop if held in La Jolla in June 2002.

Australia and the UK expressed their regret that Japan could not attend the workshop if held in June. Noting the importance Japan places on the interaction between cetaceans and fisheries and its role in developing Resolution 2001-9³² that had been adopted by consensus, the UK urged Japan to attend and provide data.

Recalling that the timing of the workshop had already been rescheduled once, the Scientific Committee Chair reported that it was too late to change the most recent plans, in which Japan had been fully involved as a member of the Steering Group, since the invited scientists had already bought their tickets. She noted that the provision of data is not an issue, since the workshop would focus on methods and not data analysis.

The Commission agreed that the workshop should go ahead as planned by the Scientific Committee.

OTHER
Austria noted that the State of the Cetacean Environment Report (SOCER) would be produced despite the funding cuts, but considered that a commitment from the Commission involving at least a minimum financial contribution would be appropriate for next year. It recalled that a request for information for the report would be sent to all Contracting Governments and hoped that abundant input would be provided.

Austria commended the Scientific Committee for its continued commitment to the issue of habitat degradation that it considered crucial to the discussion on environmental impacts on cetaceans, pulling together many of the topics such as climate change, chemical pollution, noise impact, direct and indirect impacts of fisheries. It noted that budgetary constraints would again delay the planned workshop but hoped that it could take place in the near future.

13.4 Reports from Contracting Governments
There were no reports from Contracting Governments on national and regional efforts to monitor and address the impacts of environmental change on cetaceans and other marine mammals.

13.5 Health issues
COMMISSION DISCUSSIONS AND ACTION ARISING
Noting the increasing pollution of the world's oceans, except in the Antarctic, and the problems it had itself experienced in the past due to organic mercury poisoning, Japan informed the meeting that in its view, prevention of marine contamination is very important so that safe marine food products could be provided now and to future generations. It considered that FAO and WHO should be actively involved in contributing to ensuring safety of marine products and that global measures should be taken to limit emissions of harmful substances.

The UK was grateful for Japan's comment. It noted that the coastal waters of Japan are heavily polluted and expressed interest in learning of the effects of this pollution on human health and small cetaceans.

There was no time to deal with any draft Resolutions submitted.

²⁷ See J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 2 (Suppl.): 321-46.
²⁸ See J. Cetacean Res. Manage. (Special Issue 1): Chemical Pollutants and Cetaceans.
²⁹ See Ann. Rep. Whaling Comm. 2001: 58.
³⁰ See Ann. Rep. Whaling Comm. 2000: 56
³¹ See J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 4 (Suppl.): 73
³² See Ann. Rep. Whaling Comm. 2001: 58

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