(from "Chairman's Report of the Twelfth Meeting")

The state of the stocks in the Antarctic gave the Committee great cause for concern and they expressed their views as follows:

(a) Blue Whales. There was disturbing evidence that the stock of blue whales was still declining from the low level to which it had fallen over the years and that its condition had become more serious. There were not thought to be grounds for hoping that the stock was becoming stabilised or that exploitation would be sustained at the present low levels. The Committee therefore considered that total protection for several years in the first instance was the only satisfactory measure for the protection and regeneration of the Antarctic blue whale stock.
(b) Fin Whales. The Committee were unanimously of the view that the fin whale stock was declining. The catch of fin whales had further increased and an increase in catch from a declining stock was much to be deprecated.
(c) Humpback Whales. The available evidence showed that the Group IV stock, inhabiting Antarctic Area IV (70° East - 130° East) and the waters off Western Australia, was in a serious state; and if catching were to be continued at the level of the past few years the decline would continue to disastrous levels. The Committee considered that the wisest course of action to secure regeneration would be to suspend the exploitation of the Group IV stock for two or three years.

With regard to the Group V population inhabiting Antarctic Area V (130° East - 170° West) and the waters off Eastern Australia, New Zealand and the South West Pacific Islands, it was thought undesirable for there to be any increase in the present level of taxation.
(d) Sei Whales. The Committee noted that there had been a much larger catch of sei whales in the Antarctic in 1959/60 and felt that it was desirable to obtain full data on the catch of this species each year since sei whales might become a more important element in the total Antarctic catch.
(e) Blue Whale Unit Limit. While not attempting to predict the effect of any specific reduction in the total catch limit, the Committee considered that a reduction was necessary and that anything less than about 2,500 units would have little beneficial effect.

As to sperm whales, evidence was noted of the progressive reduction of the average length of animals taken in the Antarctic. While making no specific recommendation, the Committee felt that the fullest biological data were desirable.

As to the Pacific area, the Committee noted the increasing catches and the large numbers of sperm whales recorded as being at or just over the minimum length. Furthermore, the Committee understood that the factory expeditions operating in the Pacific might be increased in number or extend their catching range. They expressed the hope that any increase of whaling in the Pacific would be based on biological assessments of the condition of the stocks.

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