17. Protection of Humpbacks
(from "Chairman's Report of the Thirteenth Meeting")
At the Twelfth Meeting the Commission amended Paragraphs 6(2)(b) and 6(3)(a)
of the Schedule to the Convention so as to afford total protection for
humpbacks in Antarctic Area IV until the end of 1963 and to reduce during the
same period the catching season in Antarctic Area V from four to three days.
These measures were, however, nullified as a consequence of the objections
lodged by the Governments of the four Antarctic pelagic whaling countries
party to the Convention, Japan, Norway, the U.S.S.R. and the United Kingdom.
At the present meeting grave concern was expressed by the Scientific Committee
at the state of the stocks in these areas.
On the motion of the Commissioner for the United States of America and
seconded by the Commissioner for Australia it was, therefore, resolved without
dissent that the four Governments concerned should be requested to reconsider
their position and withdraw the objections.
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