10. WHALE SANCTUARIES

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


10.1 Scientific research in the Indian Ocean
At its 34th Meeting the Commission agreed that a Scientific Meeting should be held in the sanctuary area before the 5 year review period expires. The Scientific Committee developed a draft agenda and agreed that it would be appropriate for the meeting to consist of members of the Scientific Committee nominated by their Governments together with representatives of non-member countries in the Indian Ocean region, and selected individuals invited by the Scientific Committee. It recommended that the IWC should send formal invitations to such non-member governments to send representatives and that FAO, UNEP and IOC should be invited to co-sponsor the meeting. The Scientific Committee also recommended (USSR reserving its position) that the meeting should consider the full range of species, including small cetaceans, which are normally reviewed in its deliberations. Argentina recorded its reservation on this matter in Technical Committee, and Japan in the Plenary Session.

There was considerable discussion in the Technical Committee on the date and place of the meeting, which the Seychelles indicated it was prepared to host. The financial implications at a time of severe constraint within the Commission caused some countries to suggest that the meeting should be delayed until the next financial year, although there was general agreement that a venue in the Indian Ocean area would be particularly appropriate.

The Commission accepted the suggestions by the Seychelles that the meeting should be held in the early months of 1985, and the arrangements and financial aspects will be decided next year.


10.2 Protected areas for whales within national jurisdiction
At its last meeting the Commission instructed the Secretary to write to Contracting Governments for information on their national legislation within waters in which they exercise jurisdiction concerning areas where whale species populations are protected from whaling. Replies were received from Australia, Denmark, Mexico, Norway, Seychelles, South Africa, the USSR, the UK, and the USA. In addition, the Secretariat abstracted whaling material from a paper prepared under direction of the FAO Legislation Branch for the FAO/UNEP Consultation on the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Management and Utilisation of Marine Mammals.

The Commission had been looking for those areas under national jurisdiction which were equivalent to sanctuaries under IWC regulations, i.e. where whales are protected from catching. In the absence of any further information the Technical Committee assumed that no other areas existed apart from those identified by the eight Governments which had responded, and the Commission took note of this.

Mexico commented on the distinction between a refuge - a place where special protection for activities such as breeding occurs - and other areas designated as sanctuaries.

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