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

Without prejudging the Commission's position on small cetaceans and making no implications on coastal state competence, it was agreed to establish a Working Group of the Technical Committee with the terms of reference shown in Appendix 2. In order that the indigenous peoples involved may review any documents developed, the preliminary report of the ad hoc Working Group would not be considered for implementation until the 34th Annual Meeting in 1982.

6.2 Bering Sea Stock of Bowhead Whales
The Scientific Committee estimated that the present population is 6 - 23% of its initial size, and a simulation model indicated that the bowhead population would decline from 1980, even in the absence of catches, unless the most optimistic parameters were adopted. Consequently the Scientific Committee confirmed its recommendations of the last three years that the only safe course from a biological point of view is for the kill of bowhead whales from the Bering Sea stock to be zero.

The USA presented an interim report produced in compliance with the Resolution adopted by the IWC last year, which detailed the cultural, historic and nutritional needs of the Eskimo populations. The ranges of bowhead whales required under these three headings were reported as 18 - 22, 19 - 33 and 32 - 33 respectively. The cultural need has the greatest significance to the Community, and the USA is looking for nutritional alternatives.

By a majority vote the Technical Committee recommended a zero catch limit as advocated by the Scientific Committee. However, after extensive discussion this proposal was defeated by 7 votes in favour to 8 against, with 8 abstentions. A proposed limit based on an assessment of cultural needs of 12 whales struck or 8 landed put forward by the Seychelles and seconded by Sweden was lost by 5 votes for to 9 against, with 10 abstentions.

The USA pointed out that since 1977 its government and the IWC have attempted to balance the biological and aboriginal requirements. The Eskimo needs are not fully satisfied by the present quota, and although previously the USA had believed that a sustained harvest at the present level was justifiable, it is now changing its position and will recommend a reduction in the catch next year.

Following further consultations a proposal from the Chair, seconded by Denmark, for a catch limit in the three years 1981 - 83 of 45 whales landed and 65 struck provided that in any one year the number of whales landed shall not exceed 17, was adopted by 16 votes to 3, with 5 abstentions.

6.3 Eastern Pacific Stock of Gray Whales
The Scientific Committee estimated that the current stock is increasing at an annual rate of 2.5%. The USSR aboriginal catch contains a large number of females and efforts will be made to reduce this proportion in future. The Technical Committee endorsed the Scientific Committee's recommendation that the Eastern stock remains classified as SMS with a catch limit of 179, and this was adopted by the Commission.

6.4 West Greenland Stock of Humpback Whales
The total removals from this stock by net entanglements and the Greenland fishery were estimated by the Scientific Committee to be at least 32 whales in 1979, or 2.5% of the lowest reasonable estimate of population size. This may be close to the net recruitment rate and unless more reliable population estimates and recruitment figures are available, it recommended once again that the exemption for a Greenland catch of 10 humpbacks be removed.

Denmark stated that it is not ready to adopt the Scientific Committee's advice. Humpback whales have been caught off Greenland for at least 200 years from the evidence in written accounts, and probably for much longer. The catches form part of a complex pattern of marine mammal exploitation by the Greenlanders. They still play a major role in the country and are the only basis of subsistence in some areas. Humpback whales are easier to catch than fin whales, and hunters believe that their numbers are increasing. The authorities are also taking steps to improve the control situation, to prevent the catch limits being exceeded as they have been in the past two years.

By a majority vote the Technical Committee agreed to recommend that the Greenland exemption be removed but this proposal failed to gain the three-quarters majority necessary in the Commission to become effective, receiving 8 votes in favour with 3 against and 13 abstentions.

6.5 Documentation of Aboriginal Needs
The USA commented on the problems of subsistence and cultural dependence on whale stocks requiring protection. These two elements are difficult to balance and it suggested that governments concerned should document the needs.

The Technical Committee put forward an amended Resolution proposed by the USA requiring the relevant data to be submitted to the IWC each year, and this was adopted by the Commission and is shown in Appendix 3.

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