23. INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER SCHEME

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


The Infractions sub-committee also discussed the International Observer Scheme and as a result made a number of recommendations which were endorsed by the Technical Committee and adopted by the Commission as follows:

Recommendation 1: That the Commission urges the Contracting Governments involved to enter into observer agreements, which would provide greater surveillance of:

(a)
Danish aboriginal operations in Greenland;
(b)
Korean operations; and
(c)
Chilean operations.
And that steps be taken, under the existing bilateral observer agreement, to provide increased coverage of Japanese land stations.

Recommendation 2: That the Commission takes all steps necessary to fill the gaps in the Inuit Observer Scheme left by Canada's withdrawal from the Commission.

Recommendation 3: That the Commission asks the Governments of Denmark and the USA to co-operate in providing an International Inuit Observer Scheme for Greenland.

Recommendation 4: That the Commission be asked to explore the possibility of a general South American Observer Scheme and other possibilities of ensuring adequate surveillance of whaling operations in Brazil, Chile and Peru.

Brazil confirmed its willingness to accept an International Observer. However, for economic reasons it would be unable to supply an observer under a reciprocal agreement.

Spain reported that it had entered into an agreement with Iceland and that the Icelandic observer had arrived in Spain one week before the start of the season.

The USA expressed its continuing support for expansion and improvement of the Observer Scheme and urged all member countries to contribute so that every whaling operation is covered.

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