15. SECOND INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH (1986)

15. SECOND INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH

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

15.1 Report Of the Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee had not yet had time to analyse the results of the 1985/86 Southern Hemisphere minke whale sightings cruise, but had made preliminary plans for a similar cruise in Antarctic Area II to be undertaken by three Japanese and one Soviet vessel in the 1986/87 season. The Scientific Committee also recommended support of a research proposal concerning the social organisation of sperm whales around the Galapagos Islands.

The Technical Committee endorsed both of these proposals, which were approved by the Commission.

15.2 FAO/UNEP Global Plan of Action for Marine Mammals
The Secretary reported on a consultative meeting on the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation of Marine Mammals held in October 1985. It was agreed that research proposals for large cetaceans under the Global Plan of Action should be sent for advisory review to the IWC Scientific Committee. One proposal had been dealt with in this manner this year.