18. Greenland Whaling

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


The Commission agreed to a proposal of the Commissioner for Denmark, seconded by the Commissioner for the United Kingdom that ten humpback whales may be taken annually off the Greenland coast, provided the catching vessels are less than 50 tons. An open season of eight months instead of six is also to be allowed for the taking of minke whales in the waters off the same country. Included in the same proposal and relevant to the same area, it was also decided that a Contracting Government in less well developed regions may permit the treatment of whales without resorting to a land station to carry out the processing laid down in the Schedule.

The consequential amendment of the Schedule was as follows:

Paragraph 6(1): add to the existing paragraph the sentence "Notwithstanding this close season the taking of 10 humpback whales per year is permitted in Greenland waters provided that whale catchers of less than 50 tons gross register tonnage are used for this purpose".

Paragraph 7(c): add to the existing paragraph the sentence "Notwithstanding this paragraph one continuous open season not to exceed eight months may be implemented so far as Greenland is concerned".

Paragraph 12(b): add to the existing paragraph the sentence "A Contracting Government may, in less developed regions exceptionally permit treating of whales without use of land stations, provided that such whales are fully utilized in accordance with this paragraph".

This amendment to the Schedule was carried, eleven voting in favour, none against and one abstaining.

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