(from "Chair's Report of the 55th Annual Meeting")

At the 2001 meeting⁷, considerable time was spent considering Antarctic minke whales with a view to obtaining final estimates of abundance and considering any trend in these. This included a review of data sources and analytical methodology. After considering many of the factors affecting abundance estimates, there is still evidence of a decline in the abundance estimates, although it is not clear how this reflects any actual change in minke abundance. Three hypotheses that might explain these results were identified:

(1)

a real change in minke abundance;

(2)

changes in the proportion of the population present in the survey region at the time of the survey;

(3)

changes in the survey process over time that compromise the comparability of estimates across years.

A considerable amount of work to investigate this further was undertaken at the 2003 meeting and a number of high priority tasks have been identified and recommended for completion before the 2004 meeting.

Last year, it had been hoped that the full third circumpolar series of IWC/SOWER⁸ cruises would have been completed by the 2002/2003 season. Unfortunately poor weather on the 2002/2003 cruise means that this will no longer be possible. The Committee does not anticipate being able to provide a full report on the status of Antarctic minke whales (including an agreed estimate of current abundance) until the third circumpolar has been completed - at the earliest at the 2006 meeting. It thanked Japan for once more providing the two vessels used on the SOWER cruises.

The Committee reiterated the great importance the SOWER surveys have been to its work. It recommended that sufficient time be set aside next year to adequately discuss further plans, given the completion of the third circumpolar set of surveys this year. To facilitate that discussion, an intersessional Steering Group was established.

6.1.2 Commission discussions and action arising
Australia considered that the Scientific Committee report confirmed that: (1) there is still no available abundance estimate for Southern Hemisphere minke whales, and (2) it has not yet been possible to explain the apparent decline in this population. Australia remained disturbed regarding the takes of minke whales in this area as part of Japan's JARPA programme without a reliable abundance estimate. New Zealand made similar remarks, looked forward to a revised abundance estimate and believed that in the meantime a precautionary approach should be employed. The UK, Germany, Italy and Monaco shared the concerns expressed by Australia and New Zealand.

Drawing attention to the Scientific Committee's report, Norway acknowledged that there is still no agreement on an explanation of the apparent population decline, but noted that the most appropriate time to resolve this issue is after the Committee completes its work on reviewing the IDCR/SOWER abundance estimates and trends, i.e. in two years time. It noted however, there are still large numbers of minke whales in this area, and believed that any decline, if it does exist, is not caused by Japan's catches.

The Commission noted the Scientific Committee report and endorsed its recommendations.

6.2 Southern Hemisphere blue whales
6.2.1 Report of the Scientific Committee
The Committee is beginning the process of reviewing the status of Southern Hemisphere blue whales. An important part of this work is to try to develop methods to identify pygmy blue whales from 'true' blue whales at sea and progress is being made on this. Work on genetic and acoustic differentiation techniques is continuing and there is considerable progress with morphological methods. Last year, the Committee received information that point estimates of blue whale abundance appear to show an increase between the third circumpolar series of cruises (CPIII) and the previous two, although this was not statistically significant. The Committee has agreed on a number of issues that need to be resolved before it is in a position to carry out an assessment, which it believes should commence in 2006.

6.2.2 Commission discussions and action arising
New Zealand commented that the situation with respect to blue whale populations is a tragic indicator of uncontrolled whaling, and that even after 40 years of protection, the signs of recovery are minimal. Australia agreed.

The Commission noted the Scientific Committee report and endorsed its recommendations.

6.3 Southern Hemisphere humpback whales
6.3.1 Report of the Scientific Committee
Considerable progress has been made in recent years in working towards an assessment of humpback whales. Attention has focussed both on data from historic whaling operations and on newly acquired photo-identification, biopsy and sightings data. The Committee made a number of research recommendations to further progress towards an assessment. An intersessional group was established last year to review progress and determine whether it is feasible to set a deadline for the assessment to be completed. Further work was identified this year and progress will be reviewed in 2004.

6.3.2 Commission discussions and action arising
New Zealand was pleased to note the contribution of Auckland scientists to this work. It noted that while the information available on this population is highly variable with large gaps it was clear that while some stocks are recovering from past excesses, others are still in a severely depleted state. New Zealand therefore considered that the South Pacific, in particular, will require protection for years to come if stocks are to recover to previous abundance levels. Australia agreed and commented that whalewatching operations are dependent on whale populations migrating in large and reliable numbers. It encouraged the continuation of work on abundance estimates so as to ensure reliable data for whalewatching purposes.

The Commission noted the Scientific Committee report and endorsed its recommendations.

6.4 Other stocks - bowhead, right and gray whales
6.4.1 Report of the Scientific Committee
SMALL STOCKS OF BOWHEAD WHALES
The Committee received information on the stock identity and movements of bowhead whales from the Davis Strait/Baffin Bay and Hudson Bay/Foxe Basin stocks. Preliminary abundance estimates for some regions of Canada were received. The catch of one animal by Canada is considered under Item 16.

NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES
The Committee has paid particular attention to the status of the North Atlantic right whale in the western North Atlantic in recent years (e.g. see special issue 2 of the Journal - Right whales: worldwide status). The Committee is extremely concerned about this population, which, whilst probably the only potentially viable population of this species, is in serious danger (ca 300 animals). By any management criteria applied by the IWC in terms of either commercial whaling or aboriginal subsistence whaling, there should be no direct anthropogenic removals from this stock.

This year, the Committee once again noted that individuals are continuing to die or become seriously injured as a result of becoming entangled in fishing gear or being struck by ships. It repeated that it is a matter of absolute urgency that every effort be made to reduce anthropogenic mortality in this population to zero. This is perhaps the only way in which its chances of survival can be directly improved. There is no need to wait for further research before implementing any currently available management actions that can reduce anthropogenic mortalities.

The Committee reviewed progress on a number of research and management recommendations concerning this stock.

EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC RIGHT WHALES
The Committee believes that the situation of eastern North Pacific right whales is equal to, if not worse than, the situation in the western North Atlantic. Numbers are estimated to be of the order of tens of individuals, with only two sightings of possible juveniles or calves this century. Both the photographic and biopsy catalogues contain several individuals that were sampled in multiple years. The Committee strongly recommended that research into the status of eastern North Pacific right whales be continued and intensified; specifically that:

(1)

visual and acoustic surveys to establish the summer distribution and feeding ground be continued;

(2)

photo-identification and photogrammetry effort be combined with attempts to obtain photographs suitable for examination of evidence of entanglement and ship strikes; and

(3)

genetic sampling of individuals be continued and the use of genotypic mark-recapture methods for population estimation be investigated.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE RIGHT WHALES
The Committee received updated information on right whales found off Peninsula Valdes, Argentina between June and December each year. Based on 30 years of photo-identification data, the annual increase in the population was 6.8% (SE 0.5%) and the population contains some 700 reproductively active females (SE 50).

WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC GRAY WHALES
This is one of the most endangered populations of great whales in the world. It numbers less than 100 animals and there are a number of proposed oil and gas-related projects in and near its only known feeding ground. The Committee held a Workshop in October 2002 to review this further. The Workshop report will be published in J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 6 (Suppl.). Overall, the Workshop agreed with the conclusions of previous reviews on western gray whales. Specifically, that the population is very small, and suffers from a low number of reproductive females, low calf survival, male-biased sex ratio, dependence upon a restricted feeding area and apparent nutritional stress (as reflected in a large number of skinny whales). Other major potential concerns include behavioural reactions to noise (notably in light of increasing industrial activity in the area) and the threat of an oil spill off Sakhalin which could cover all or part of the Piltun area and thus potentially exclude animals from this feeding ground. The Workshop had noted that assessments of the potential impact of any single threat to the survival and reproduction of western gray whales were insufficient and had strongly recommended that risk assessments consider cumulative impact of multiple threats (from both natural and anthropogenic sources).

The Committee adopted the Workshop report and endorsed its recommendations, including the research and monitoring plan. In conclusion, the Committee strongly reiterated that it is a matter of absolute urgency that every effort is made to reduce anthropogenic mortality (including direct catches) and disturbance to zero to save western North Pacific gray whales from extinction.

HUMPBACK WHALES OFF GABON
The potential impact of ongoing seismic surveys on a humpback whale breeding and calving ground in Gabon was raised. Seismic surveys were planned for May-July 2003 and coincided with humpback whale breeding and calving in the area. The Committee expressed serious concern about the spatial and temporal overlap of surveys and humpback breeding and noted that future seismic surveys should be completed prior to the arrival of whales on their wintering grounds off Gabon.

6.4.2 Commission discussions and action arising
Discussion within the Commission focussed on the western North Pacific stock of gray whales. The USA generally welcomed the Scientific Committee's report and was encouraged by the collaborative effort at the workshop in the Republic of Korea in October last year. It remained concerned, however, about the status of the stock in view of its geographic and genetic isolation combined with small population size and the possibility that there are less than 50 reproductive individuals present. The USA continued to support the Scientific Committee's recommendations that long-term research and management of this stock be continued and expanded. It also noted the recommendations that other range states such as Japan, China and the Republic of Korea develop national research and management programmes. The Netherlands complimented the Republic of Korea for organising the workshop and supported the remarks made by the USA. It noted that increasing industrial activity such as oil exploration may cause additional threats to this stock and urged that before such activities are started, environmental impact assessments are made and appropriate action taken. Noting the recommendations regarding national research and management programmes, the Republic of Korea indicated its willingness to participate actively in research programmes and reported that its national programme for next year will include the monitoring of gray whales in its waters.

The Commission noted the Scientific Committee report and endorsed its recommendations.

6.5 Other
6.5.1 Report of the Scientific Committee
MATTERS RELEVANT TO MORE THAN ONE STOCK
The Committee received reports on the new data that have been incorporated into the IWC-DESS sighting database, including new data from the Southern Hemisphere SOWER cruises and from the Icelandic component of the NASS 2001 surveys.

It also continued to work on the use of simulated datasets to test methods of estimating abundance.

IN-DEPTH ASSESSMENT OF SPERM WHALES
The Committee received and endorsed a proposal to plan for an in-depth assessment of sperm whales some time around 2007/2008, provided that certain analyses and field work are undertaken. A proposal for a workshop was endorsed but not given high priority for funding. An intersessional working group will continue to discuss this matter.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE FIN WHALES
The Committee briefly considered new information on Southern Hemisphere fin whales. A number of research recommendations were made.

NORTH ATLANTIC FIN WHALES
The Committee received a suggestion that a pre-implementation assessment of North Atlantic fin whales should become a priority activity for the Committee. There had been insufficient time during the meetings of the sub-committee on the RMP for this to be discussed. It was agreed that an intersessional Steering Group would develop a recommendation for the Committee regarding whether the available data are sufficient to allow a pre-implementation assessment to occur.

6.5.2 Commission discussions and action arising
Iceland welcomed the Committee's plans for an in-depth assessment of the North Atlantic fin whale stock since it is important to Iceland. The UK also welcomed the Committee's intentions to press forward with this work, but indicated that it would be happier if it could be assured that no further efforts would be made to exploit the stock until completion of this assessment.

The Commission noted the Scientific Committee report and endorsed its recommendations.

⁶J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 3 (Suppl.): 29-32.
⁷J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 4 (Suppl.): 30-6.
⁸SOWER: Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research.

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