17. HUMANE KILLING

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


17.1 Report of Working Group
Mr L.J.W. Ludbrook (New Zealand) presented to the Technical Committee the report of the Working Group which he had chaired, and which was attended by delegates from Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany, Iceland, Japan, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, St Lucia, the Seychelles, Sweden, UK, USA, and observers from the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission.


17.1.1 Killing methods used in aboriginal subsistence whaling
(a) Alaskan bowhead whale hunt
The Working Group considered a document presented by the USA which outlined an ongoing weapon improvement programme, the use of radio transmitters to find whales struck but not landed, and workshops given by Eskimo whalers to help make hunts safe and successful. The Working Group requested further information on time to death and the suffering associated with killing. Norway offered advice on improved weaponry which the US welcomed, within the constraints of an aboriginal hunt on a protected stock.

The Working Group recommended that this subject should be kept under review. It looked forward to further information from the USA on the struck and lost rates, and the Commission agreed to instruct the Secretary to undertake a survey of material of possible relevance to the use of neurotoxins for the killing of whales.


(b) Greenland aboriginal whale hunt
Although Denmark provided some information on the vessels, weaponry and characteristics of the hunt, grave concern was expressed by the Working Group at the lack of information and the absence of programmes for training of crews and the development of more humane weaponry. It agreed to consider this issue next year and invited Denmark to provide a report on training programmes being developed, the weaponry used and being developed, the body region at which killing shots are aimed, the struck and lost rates for the hunt, the time to death, the monitoring mechanisms in force, and the differences in practice for the various types of aboriginal catch. Denmark indicated that it would, in cooperation with the authorities in Greenland, develop procedures to answer these matters next year, including the investigation of improved Weaponry.


17.1.2 Faroese pilot whale fishery
The Working Group considered information on this fishery and recent changes to Faroese legislation on whaling. Very strong concern was expressed about the methods employed in the Faroese whale fishery, with particular reference being made to the use of the gaff and the spear.

In the Technical Committee there was considerable discussion of a Netherlands proposal to recommend to Denmark that the use of the gaff should be eliminated as soon as possible. A number of delegations expressed their support, while others believed that the pilot whale and the issue of humane killing are outside the IWC's competence.


17.1.3 Other business
It was pointed out in the Working Group that governments had been invited to submit their national laws on how they kill animals. The Working Group agreed that those governments which have not done so should be reminded of this request so that they would submit details of their national laws to the Commission.


17.2 Action arising
The Technical Committee noted the report and the Commission accepted the proposals of the Working Group with respect to the Alaskan bowhead whale hunt, the Greenland aboriginal whale hunt, and the submission of details of national laws.

Concerning the Faroese pilot whale fishery, the Commission adopted a proposal by the Netherlands in the Technical Committee, and agreed to by Denmark, in the following terms:

In the light of the report of the Humane Killing Working Group, the Commission asks the Danish Government to convey to the Faroese Government the concern expressed by the IWC about the methods used and the organisation of the Faroese pilot whale hunt. Recognising that some progress has been made already in measures taken by the Faroese Government, the Commission urges the Danish Government to encourage the Faroese Government to make every effort to minimise the use of the gaff and spear and the killing from boats, and to further reduce the number of authorised bays so as to limit the hunt to those bays where the whales may be killed in a more humane manner.

The Commission recognises the undertaking of the Danish Government to report to the Commission on progress in relation to this matter. Furthermore, the Commission continues to offer scientific expertise to the Faroes Government, through the Danish Government, to advise on improvements in the killing methods.

Japan and Norway recorded their reservations, and Mexico expressed its concern over the recommendation to further reduce the number of authorised bays as a precedent for limiting catching grounds within coastal state jurisdiction.

_