11. COMMISSION'S COMPETENCE TO SET CATCH LIMITS FOR BAIRD'S BEAKED WHALE IN THE NORTH PACIFIC (1984)

11. COMMISSION'S COMPETENCE TO SET CATCH LIMITS FOR BAIRD'S BEAKED WHALE IN THE NORTH PACIFIC

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

Australia noted the verbatim record of the 1946 Conference where it dealt with the list of names included in the Annex to the Final Report. It still believes that this gives no ground for suggesting a limitation of the Commission's competence in this area.

Sweden, the Netherlands, Seychelles, UK and USA, all expressed similar views.

Denmark took the view that only species named in the Annex should be regulated by IWC.

Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Argentina also expressed their reservation on the Commission's competence to regulate the species not mentioned in the Convention texts.

Japan held similar views and believed it was a matter for discussion between Contracting Governments. It stated that it will take no more than forty Baird's beaked whales in the next year, with catch control under its national regulations.

The Technical Committee agreed by consensus to defer further discussions until next year, noting the preference of St. Lucia to settle the matter now. The Commission accepted this decision.