6. Statements by Observers and Commissioners (1973)

6. Statements by Observers and Commissioners

(from "Chairman's Report of the Twenty-Fifth Meeting")

Statements were made by Mr Douglas C. Fonda Jr representing the Whaling and Marine Manuscript Archives, Dr Raymond F. Dasmann for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Mr Richard Fitter for the Fauna Preservation Society, Mr Colin Blythe for the Friends of the Earth (Europe), Sir Peter Scott for the World Wildlife Fund, Mrs C. Stevens for the Friends of the Earth (North America) and Miss Patricia Forken for the World Federation for the Protection of Animals. Mr Colin Platt made a statement at the end of the meeting for the International Society for the Protection of Animals.

Mr L.K. Boerema of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations told the Commission that because of the uncertainties in the estimates of the stocks of marine mammals, FAO's Committee on Fisheries thought that an independent review of the situation might be useful and a working party had been set up under the Director-General's Committee on Marine Resources Research (ACMRR), to be funded from contributions obtained from outside FAO's regular budget, consisting of scientists representing experts in the various groups of mammals and stock assessment from government agencies, universities and research institutes. The task of the working party was to review the identity, distribution and the state of stocks of all marine mammals particularly those mammals which are, have been or might soon be subject to exploitation by man or affected by human maritime activities. It would seek to co-operate with international bodies, including the Commission. This work was expected to take about two years - this would depend partly upon how quickly funds became available - and it was intended to organise a symposium for discussion of the results which would be made widely available.

Opening statements outlining the basic position on proposals before the Commission were made by the Commissioners for Canada, United States, Japan, USSR and South Africa.