19. Ban on Killing Blue and Humpback Whales in North Atlantic Ocean
(from "Chairman's Report of the Twenty-First Meeting")
The Scientific Committee reviewed the data relating to the stocks of blue and
humpback whales in the North Atlantic.
From limited evidence it seemed that there was some rebuilding of humpback
stocks in the North-west Atlantic but there was nothing to suggest any
substantial increase elsewhere in the North Atlantic.
It recommended that the present ban on killing blue whales in the North
Atlantic, which terminates on 24th February 1970, and that on killing
humpback whales in the North Atlantic Ocean, which terminates on 8th November
1969, be extended for three years.
In the meantime it urged that companies operating in that area should provide
sighting data on the prohibited species.
The Technical Committee accepted the recommendations and on the proposal of
that Committee the Commission agreed unanimously to make the following
amendments to the Schedule of the Convention:
paragraph 4(1)(a)
delete the words after "North Atlantic Ocean" and substitute for them "for
three years ending on 24th February 1973"
paragraph 6(1)
delete "1969" and substitute "1972"