18. HUMANE KILLING

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


18.1 Report of the Technical Committee Working Group
The Working Group met prior to the opening of the Technical Committee. It was chaired by Dr R. Gambell (IWC Secretary) and attended by Australia, Brazil, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Seychelles, USSR, UK, USA and two invited experts, Dr H.C. Rowsell and Dr R.H. Lambertsen. Under the terms of reference adopted last year it was agreed that the Working Group would continue to review available papers and evaluate the results of experimental programmes on alternatives to the cold grenade harpoon for killing minke whales (the original terms of reference); it should also include humane killing in aboriginal subsistence whaling; as well as review the programme of work in Iceland which it has supported on the humane killing of the larger whale species.


1. Experimental programmes on alternatives to the cold grenade harpoon for killing minke whales
Norway reported on the development of an improved detonating grenade harpoon. The Working Group noted its favourable impression of the Norwegian programme whose results look promising. It was also noted that Norway no longer allows the use of the cold harpoon. and that the new grenade harpoon is in use from the beginning of the 1984 season. The results in 1984 will be monitored so that further modifications may be made if needed.

A Brazilian report prepared by the whaling company on experiments with friction fuses for explosive harpoons was not very successful. The Working Group suggested that the Brazilian company should be advised of the successful efforts made by Japan and Norway.

Japan gave a detailed account of its experimental programmes, both in the Antarctic and in the coastal fisheries. While trying to develop more sensitive fuses, safety devices are needed and these are still being developed. The Working Group noted that Japan no longer uses cold grenade harpoons.

The USSR gave a report on its experience using 90 mm harpoons which still require further studies. The Soviet experts again drew the attention of the Working Group to their principle attitude towards the humane killing issue. They strongly felt that scholastic deliberations on that problem were imposed upon the Commission and its subsidiary bodies and did not contribute to the proper fulfilment of the mandate of the Commission. They believed that any discussion of that kind is not scientifically based and lies beyond the scope of IWC competence.

A representative of the USA expressed the alternative view that it is appropriate for the IWC to consider humane killing and equipment used, based on Article IV(1)(a) and other provisions of the Convention which were considered when the bans on the use of the cold harpoon were passed.


2. Programme in Iceland on larger species
A full report on the project sponsored in part by the IWC, conducted with full cooperation by the Icelandic whaling operation, was presented.

Behavioural and post mortem observations on 19 fin whales killed with explosive harpoons were available. The results were discussed in detail by the Working Group which concluded that the programme had made a substantial contribution to defining criteria needed for accurate assessment of killing efficiency.


3. Aboriginal subsistence whaling
As no information was available directly, the Working Group recommended that the Secretary again write to the governments concerned to solicit documentation of information from aboriginal whaling operations on those aspects covered within the terms of reference of the Working Group. This was endorsed by the Technical Committee and agreed by the Commission.


4. Other matters
(1) National laws from Japan and Iceland on killing animals both aim for as speedy and painless a process as possible.

The Canadian Federal Trapping Standards call for minimum distress and demand death or unconsciousness within three minutes.

The Working Group agreed that it is useful to get information from as many Contracting Governments as possible on their laws on this subject, and requested that the Secretary be so instructed.

(2) Information on electric lances was considered from Japan and the USSR.

(3) The Working Group noted a review paper supporting its previous conclusion that no presently available drug should be used for killing whales.

(4) The Report of the International Observer at the Japanese land station confirmed that no cold harpoons were used.

In adopting its report the Working Group recognised the skewed nature of the frequency distributions of times to death, and agreed that future reports for all species should include, in addition to the basic data, the following summary statistics:

(1) The median time to death.
(2) The time by which 90% of the animals had died.
(3) The maximum time to death recorded.

This would facilitate comparison between studies and assist in presenting summaries of such studies in reports of this Working Group.

It recommended that at present as a practical field measurement, cessation of movement be used as the criterion for death, and that this should be determined by direct observation of the whale at the surface.

In adopting this report the Technical Committee accepted these recommendations, which were endorsed by the Commission.

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