12. Protection of Sperm Whales

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


Great concern was expressed by some of the Commissioners at the increased taxation of the stocks of sperm whales. There had been much larger catches in the last year and it was feared that decreased whaling in the Antarctic might divert more factory ships to pursue this species in the area outside the Antarctic where the female breeding stocks are to be found. Moreover, while the minimum size limit - 38 feet - should be enough to save the great majority of females, massive evidence was available to the Commission to show that this regulation was being broken on a large scale. Although much more information is needed on the state of the stocks of this species, it was pointed out that delaying conservation action until better evidence on depletion is obtained has already produced instances of having waited until the sustainable yield is no longer economic.


13. With these arguments before them, the Commission therefore considered an amendment to the Schedule, Paragraph 6 moved by the Commissioner for Australia and seconded by the Commissioner for New Zealand which stated "6(4) it is forbidden to use a whale catcher attached to a factory ship for the purpose of killing or attempting to kill sperm whales in the waters between 40° South Latitude and 40° North Latitude". The amendment was carried by seven votes in favour to two against but there were four abstentions.


14. In accepting the Report of the Scientific Committee the Commission also agreed that there should be a further meeting of the Sperm Whale Sub-Committee. This would be in 1966 either immediately before or immediately after that of the North Pacific Working Group. The meeting would be convened by Mr. R. Gambell (U.K.).

_