8. Blue Whale Unit Limit

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


The Scientific Committee and the Committee of Three, when considering the state of the Antarctic stocks, had recommended that the blue whale unit limit should be abolished and replaced by total numerical quotas for the different species. Maximum sustainable yields could only be maintained by quotas for each of the species. On the other hand the blue whale unit limit would not allow the different species to be taken in the correct proportions and over or under exploitation would ensue. The Commission noted this recommendation but felt that, for the present, the blue whale unit limit was the only practical method that could be administered.

There was a considerable discussion on the blue whale unit limit in the Technical Committee, where 4,000, 10,000 and 12,000 units were proposed for the next Antarctic season without any agreement being reached. When the Commission considered the matter 4,000 and 10,000 units were suggested. Eventually, on the proposal of the Commissioner for Japan and seconded by the Commissioner for the U.S.S.R. a blue whale unit limit of 10,000 was carried. There were 7 votes in favour, 1 against and 5 abstentions. Some of the Commissioners who would have voted for 4,000 units decided not to as there were three countries who considered their whaling fleet economics could not be supported at such a level of whaling and they might be expected to object within the statutory 90 days if such a proposition were carried. The blue whale unit would then revert to 15,000 units.

As a consequence of the reduced blue whale unit limit amending Schedule Paragraph 8(a), it was proposed by the Commissioner for the Netherlands and seconded by the Commissioner for the U.S.A. that the figure of 13,500 blue whale units mentioned in Paragraph 8(c) of the Schedule should be replaced by 9,000. This proposal was carried by a show of hands, there being 10 votes in favour.

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