10. WHALE SANCTUARIES

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


10.1 Scientific Research in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary
The Seychelles reported on the research programme which it is co-ordinating in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary established by the Commission. This includes an aerial survey by a conservation group and assistance in data analysis by US scientists. A planning meeting for further research will be co-sponsored by the Seychelles and the Netherlands and will be held in the Netherlands in the autumn. The IWC is also providing financial support for that meeting and a document will be submitted from the Scientific Committee.

The Technical Committee endorsed a Resolution proposed by Oman concerning communication between the IWC and the Indian Ocean Coastal States. In Plenary Session, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, and Brazil all expressed their reservations concerning some of the concepts embodied in the preambular paragraphs, to which Japan also objected.

South Africa, seconded by the Seychelles, suggested that only the operative part of the Resolution should be accepted, and following extensive amendments put forward by India and the Netherlands, the Commission adopted the revised wording (Appendix 3).


10.2 Examination of the General Concept and Characteristics of Whale Sanctuaries
Australia proposed that certain information covering the species involved, together with management and research data, should be required to be submitted prior to the establishment of any proposed whale sanctuary.

Following a broad discussion in Technical Committee, including the position of small cetaceans and coastal states' rights, it was agreed that because there are more than just scientific considerations involved, a Technical Committee Working Group should be established, convened by Prof. Ovington (Australia).

The Commission endorsed the formation of this Working Group and also agreed that the Secretary should write to all Contracting Governments, inviting them to participate and in particular to submit comments on the Australian proposal. All of this material would then be available to the Scientific Committee at its next annual meeting for comment on the scientific aspects before consideration and preparation of a report by the Working Group in the week preceding the next Annual Meeting of the Commission. Argentina emphasized that the Scientific Committee should only deal with the scientific aspects.

Jamaica submitted a Resolution intended to designate a Northwest Atlantic sanctuary. It spoke of the need for positive action to protect cetaceans, but Japan pointed out that the area involved includes many 200 mile fishery zones, which raised some important issues. Further discussion noted the inclusion of small cetaceans in the proposal, and the Technical Committee finally agreed that the Jamaican proposal should be postponed until after the general review of the concept of whale sanctuaries had taken place.

Jamaica re-introduced its proposal in the Plenary Session, seconded by the USA which spoke of the benefit for the humpback populations in the area. However, after Denmark, Mexico, Japan and Peru expressed reservations and Chile spoke of the need for further study of the judicial aspects, Jamaica withdrew the proposal before a vote called for by Argentina could be taken.

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