16. CONSIDERATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CONFERENCE ON THE NON-CONSUMPTIVE UTILISATION OF CETACEAN RESOURCRS

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


A Technical Committee Working Group, chaired by Dr W.E. Evans (USA), met prior to the Annual Meeting with the following terms of reference:
(1)
To examine the recommendations contained in the Conference Report.

(2)
On the basis of this review, to report to the Technical Committee at the 36th Annual Meeting on such matters as may fall within the competence of the IWC.

(3)
To identify the financial implications of any action. Discussions included consideration of the comments made by the Scientific Committee.
Japan stated that
'The present Convention for regulation of whaling is, no doubt, for the rational utilisation of the whale resources through the conservation of the resources and orderly development of the whaling industry. It is quite clear from the title, preamble and the provisions themselves of the Convention that the Convention is for the consumptive use of whales. Therefore, the Japanese delegation cannot go along with any allegation that non-consumptive utilisation has a higher priority than consumptive utilisation. We cannot support any of the recommendations given in the report of non-consumptive utilisation. The remarks just mentioned can be applied to any individual recommendations listed in the paper.'
The Soviet delegation stated its principal attitude with regard to the subject matter of the global conference on non-consumptive uses of cetacean resources. It particularly stressed that the recommendations proposed by the conference do not comply with the main purpose of the Convention of 1946, and thus are not in line with the Commission's competence.

It believed that consideration of the above recommendations within the IWC does not provide for the solution of the crucial problems facing the Commission.

The USA noted that in view of the interventions from Japan and the USSR, the Working Group might ask the Technical Committee to seek legal advice on the competence of the Commission to consider management actions relative to non-consumptive uses of whales.

The Working Group therefore reviewed the report of the Non-Consumptive Utilisation Conference considering benign research, value of protected areas, ecological value of cetaceans, recreational whale watching, cetaceans in captivity, educational and cultural uses, values of cetaceans, conflicts of use and moral questions.

Mexico stated that in the application of the conclusions and recommendations reached in the Working Group, national programmes and legislation should be taken into account respecting the rights of member states in the areas under their sovereignty.

The Working Group made no recommendations concerning non-consumptive uses of whales and thus did not take any position regarding strengthening the IWC Secretariat.

Since the Working Group did not forward any recommendations for any action in the Technical Committee, there are no financial implications to the Commission.

The Technical Committee and the Commission took note of this report.

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