(from "Chairman's Report of the Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting")
Detailed technical information was presented by Denmark, the USA and the USSR in response to the guidelines developed last year.
Last year Denmark noted that the current catch level of minke whales and the catch limits of 10 humpbacks and 6 fin whales at present were satisfactory in meeting the nutritional and subsistence needs of the Greenlanders from these species. In the opinion of Denmark, the documentation presented this year supports this point of view.
The USA noted that the affected stock of bowhead whales is currently under a block quota, and that the conclusion reached in the 1983 US submission to this sub-committee as to the nature and the magnitude of need for the bowhead whale is unchanged (35 strikes based on a need to land 26 bowheads).
The USSR emphasised the long tradition of whaling from the Chukchi Peninsula. The papers submitted included tables giving data on the variety of food stuffs consumed by the aboriginal population in the Chukot Region.
The sub-committee made a series of proposals (shown in Appendix 3) which were accepted by the Technical Committee and adopted by the Commission.
The sub-committee requested a review of its membership and Chairman. Antigua and Barbuda requested full membership and this was agreed, and the USSR proposed that Professor Ovington should continue as Chairman, with thanks for his past services. This was supported by Denmark, the USA, Japan, the UK and Argentina, agreed by the Technical Committee and endorsed by the Commission.
13.2 Report of Scientific Committee
13.2.1 Bering Sea Stock of bowhead whales
The Scientific Committee noted the 1983 - 1984 catch statistics and welcomed
efforts to reduce the struck and lost rate.
Some concern was expressed over the high proportion of sexually mature whales
which were landed.
Although a value for gross recruitment rate was agreed, no value of natural mortality and hence net recruitment rate was obtained. No new census data were available at the Scientific Committee meeting but information on the success of acoustic experiments confirmed that bowheads continue to migrate when visual observations are not possible from ice camps.
Information on bowhead response to offshore petroleum operations needs to be fully evaluated, and proposals for further work were made.
The Scientific Committee agreed that last year's population estimate is appropriate, at about 19 to 28% of the unexploited level, and therefore the stock should be classified PS.
It also recommended that the total two year strike limit of 43 should not be increased and that catches should be directed towards smaller, immature animals (less than 13 m). Steps should be continued to decrease the struck and lost rate further.
This advice was noted by the Technical Committee and agreed by the Commission.
Mexico reminded the Commission that last year it proposed the cessation of non-commercial whaling on this species, to give it total protection. It also emphasised the statement in the report of the Scientific Committee that, in the absence of any estimate of net recruitment, the Committee did not feel confident in predicting the likely effects of catches from this stock.
13.2.2 Eastern Pacific Stock of gray whales
The Scientific Committee made no new assessment for this species.
The sex of all animals landed was recorded this year and it was noted that 123
of the 168 animals were females.
It is difficult to correct this imbalance.
The Scientific Committee also recommended that photographs of the dorsal area
of landed catches should be obtained for comparison with those from the
breeding areas.
In view of the importance of obtaining evidence of rates of recovery and gross and net recruitment rates, the USA is requested to provide estimates of current population size. A similar request is also made to Mexico.
The Technical Committee noted these comments, and recommended continuation of the present catch limit of 179, which was agreed by the Commission. Mexico welcomed this recommendation, and recorded that it has been involved in whale research and conservation of this species for five consecutive years, including a national programme and a legislative review.
13.2.3 Western North Atlantic humpback whales
Evidence from humpback songs which might help with stock identity were
reviewed, but no conclusion could be drawn.
Recommendations for future research were made by the Scientific Committee.
Updated fluke photograph data indicate three distinct feeding aggregations, but mixing on breeding grounds in the Antilles. Analysis of photographic data results in an estimate of 212 - 308 for the West Greenland feeding aggregation. Last year's total stock estimate of 5,773 was retained and the Scientific Committee repeated its recommendation of last year that the stock should be unclassified with a zero catch limit.
The Scientific Committee also recommended that no catch should be permitted from the West Greenland feeding aggregation.
13.2.4 Other stocks
West Greenland fin whales
Results of a sighting survey were reviewed but no population estimates could
be made.
Other sighting information available did not indicate a recent alteration in
stock level.
The Scientific Committee had insufficient information to provide advice on
classification or a catch limit.
West Greenland minke whales
The Scientific Committee reviewed the available sightings and CPUE data.
Updated CPUE values for one Norwegian vessel were analysed and similar results
to last year's were obtained.
The Scientific Committee had insufficient information to recommend a
classification for this stock.
While noting it was more probable than not that the stock had declined, it was
agreed that it had no information to recommend a change in the present block
quota.
Denmark noted the Scientific Committee's advice and considered that there should be no change in the block quota, and no change was recommended by the Technical Committee nor made by the Commission.
13.3 Action arising
Denmark asked that the populations of humpback and fin whales harvested from
Greenland should be considered together.
It put forward a proposal which took note of the advice from the aboriginal
subsistence whaling sub-committee that the populations harvested should be
considered together, and the recognition by Denmark that catch limits of 10
humpbacks and 6 fin whales were satisfactory in meeting the nutritional and
subsistence needs of Greenlanders with respect to these species.
It recognized the need for caution for catches from the West Greenland
humpback feeding aggregation and proposed a reduction of catch from this
stock, to be substituted by fin whales.
The proposal incorporates a safety system in addition to the national steps being taken to prevent the catch limit being exceeded.
This proposal was seconded by the Netherlands and the USA and adopted by consensus in the Technical Committee. In the plenary, there was some discussion of a suggestion from the Netherlands to add wording to emphasise that any catch taken above the catch limit was an infraction, but this was withdrawn after expression of opinions by the UK, Norway and Denmark.
The Seychelles offered a revision of one phrase in the text as a simpler wording without changing the sense, and this was accepted by the Commission, which then approved the following amendment to the Schedule with respect to West Greenland fin and humpback whales:
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