(from "Chairman's Report of the Thirty-First Annual Meeting")

Because of the scientific uncertainty and the amount of biological material still remaining to be analysed, the Seychelles proposed a three year moratorium on the commercial taking of sperm whales. This was adopted by a majority vote in the Technical Committee. Support for this proposal on the same ground came from several governments, and Panama added the possibility of a high intelligence potential in the sperm whale as a further reason for such action. Japan pointed out that the Scientific Committee had not made this recommendation and stated that its own scientists could complete their work in one year. Iceland noted that the Scientific Committee had not called for a halt to sperm whaling in the North Atlantic, and the USSR commented on the discriminatory character of the proposal.

On being put to the vote, the proposal failed to gain the three-quarters majority necessary to amend the Schedule, receiving 11 votes in favour, with 6 against and 5 abstentions.

The Commission then went on to consider the classifications and catch limits of the sperm whale stocks which would be available to land station operations.

10.1 North Atlantic
The Scientific Committee at present considers the sperm whales in the North Atlantic to belong to a single stock. It recommended that the stock be unclassified with a provisional catch limit of 273 for 1980 only, the average of the past ten years' catches by Iceland and Spain.

The Technical Committee agreed to recommend a provisional classification as SMS with the same catch limit. This was approved by the Commission by 10 votes in favour to 2 against with 11 abstentions, after the defeat of an amendment for a zero catch quota proposed by Panama, seconded by France, by 6 votes for to 9 against, with 8 abstentions.

Full analyses of all the available data from Icelandic, Spanish and other catches should be undertaken at the next meeting.

10.2 North Pacific
The Technical Committee recommended that the catch limits for males in the Eastern Division and all females should be zero, and that the Western Division males be provisionally listed as SMS with a catch limit of 1350. Included in this figure there may be a catch of females not to exceed 11.5% and all whaling operations for this species are to cease when the by-catch is reached.

The Netherlands, seconded by Seychelles, proposed an amendment for 1,100 males with no by-catch in the Western Division. After reference to discussion at previous meetings on the by-catch problem, a second amendment for a catch of 1,100 males with a by-catch of 11.5% females was moved by Seychelles and seconded by Australia and New Zealand. This failed to receive a three-quarters majority, with 8 votes in favour, 7 against with 8 abstentions. Following the withdrawal of the first amendment the original proposal was adopted by 12 votes for to 4 against with 7 abstentions.

The Commissioners for the UK and the USA both expressed their continuing concern that the by-catch problem should be investigated.

10.3 Northern Indian Ocean
The Scientific Committee noted that no classifications have been given previously to Indian Ocean stocks north of the Equator. Its recommendation, endorsed by the Technical Committee, was approved by the Commission that there should be a zero catch until separate assessments can be carried out or there is evidence that the whales are from the same stocks as those south of the Equator.

10.4 Southern Hemisphere
Division 1. The Technical Committee recommended a catch limit of 30, and the Commission adopted this with a provisional classification as SMS. Brazil stated that it would report back on the reaction of its government after this meeting.

Division 9. The Commission adopted the recommendation of the Technical Committee for a phasing out of catches as follows.

Season    1980  1981  1982
Catch      550   300     0
OR          50%   25%    0% of the 1978 catch,
whichever is the lower.

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