9. Pelagic Catch Limit in the Antarctic
(from "Chairman's Report of the Twenty-First Meeting")
The Scientific Committee had agreed on an estimate of 5,000 whales (833 blue
whale units) for the 1969/70 sustainable yield of sei whales in the Antarctic
but was unable to reach agreement on the yield of fin whales for which the
estimates ranged from 1,000 to 5,600 whales.
The difference arose in methods and assumptions and the Scientific Committee
proposed that it should meet early in 1970 to discuss and review methods and
assumptions of fin whale stock assessment when these questions would be
studied in greater detail and more precise estimates obtained.
The Commission accepted the Technical Committee's recommendation that pending
the more precise estimates to be made at the meeting early in 1970 the
Antarctic catch limit in 1969/70 should be 2,700 blue whale units.
It was accordingly agreed unanimously to amend paragraph 8(a) of the Schedule
to the Convention by deleting "3,200" and substituting "2,700" and deleting
"1968/69" and substituting "1969/70."
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