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

Alaskan bowhead hunt
Papers were presented by the USA on the 'time to death' of landed whales and the hunting efficiency and recovery methods in the Alaskan Eskimo subsistence hunt. It was noted that 'time to death' actually was the time until the whale was brought under control. A powerful new penthrite projectile, developed by Norwegian specialists under contract to the AEWC, will be used in the Fall 1987 and Spring 1988 hunts. It was believed that this improved projectile to be used in traditional weapons offers a substantial increased potential for achieving instantaneous killing. It was noted that the Scientific Committee has reported that since 1982 there has been a decrease in the struck and lost rate in the Alaskan Eskimo hunt, and there is no significant difference in hunting success between villages.

Greenlandic whale hunt
More information was available on hunter education and qualifications but, other than a description of the weapons used, there was little information provided by Denmark on the 'time to death'. Specific questions were developed by a small committee, the majority of which were answered by Denmark at this Annual Meeting. Some may be answered later, but it may not be possible to answer some questions. The remainder will be prepared. Concern was expressed about the continued use of the cold grenade harpoon, and the feasibility of using the Norwegian penthrite harpoon grenade in this aboriginal whaling operation is being studied by the Greenlandic authorities and the hunters in Greenland. Investigation of the use of this device was urged by the Working Group.

Faroese pilot whale fishery
In the Working Group, Denmark reported that it had conveyed to the Faroese Home Rule Authority the concerns over the use of the gaff and spear from boats, and the use of certain bays in this fishery. Denmark reported that it had no progress to report on these matters at this time.

In the Technical Committee, the UK expressed its continuing concern over this hunt, and particularly the killing methods in use. It had welcomed the undertakings given by Denmark last year, but the hunt continues much as before and it was dismayed that Denmark had not yet reported on progress achieved. The Netherlands, Switzerland, Antigua and Barbuda, Seychelles and the Federal Republic of Germany associated themselves with this position.

Japan reserved its position on the matter until the question of competence in listed species is resolved.

Denmark stated its position that the IWC has no competence to regulate small cetaceans. It pointed out that in 1985, in an effort to relieve public pressure on some delegations, it did not oppose discussion of this fishery in the Humane Killing Working Group in 1986, and that it had no intention of hiding behind technicalities to avoid this issue. Denmark found the discussion in the Working Group last year disappointing because of the attitude of some delegations and because no helpful advice was provided, but nevertheless it made a commitment to submit a report on progress with respect to certain features of the killing methods although no time limit was set for this report. Such a report will be available, but for information only, next year. Denmark accepts that small cetaceans can be discussed by the Scientific Committee, but cannot accept either regulatory competence of the Commission in this area or repeated discussion in the Commission of the subject. It invited all delegations bilaterally to put any specific questions to it, add noted that the Faroese catches are only a small part of the total catch of small cetaceans worldwide recorded by the Scientific Committee.

The UK, supported by the Netherlands, proposed the following form of words:

With reference to the statement on the pilot whale hunt of the Farce Islands which was made during the 38th Annual Meeting of the IWC, and noting that no report of progress has been submitted on this matter since that meeting, the Danish government is urged to fulfil its commitment of 1986 before the next Annual Meeting.

This formulation was generally acceptable to the Technical Committee and in particular Denmark accepted this wording and stood by its commitment from last year.

Use of neurotoxins
Last year the Secretary was instructed to undertake a survey of material of possible relevance to the use of neurotoxins for the killing of whales. Only Norway responded, pointing out that no new information was available since the Commission decided in 1983 that drugs were not suitable in this context. It was agreed to discuss the item next year if more information is forthcoming, is provided well in advance, and is judged by the Working Group to be useful.

Experiments on 90mm harpoon grenade technology
The Working Group received reports on experimental work carried out in Iceland in 1985, and in 1986 in conjunction with the Icelandic programme of whale research, by a Norwegian specialist, which built on Japan's primary work with penthrite as the explosive in grenades used for whaling. These experiments showed that it was possible to safely use the grenade on 90mm harpoons and increase the amount of penthrite.

National laws relevant to killing animals
Only 12 of the 41 IWC member governments had responded to the invitation to submit national laws on how they regulate or provide guidance for the killing of animals. Although useful, these data apply primarily to methods of killing domestic livestock and in some cases euthanasia for sick and/or wounded animals. A small sub-committee therefore drew up a questionnaire dealing with specific data on the killing of wildlife to provide a format that is practical as well as informative for the benefit of the Working Group.

This questionnaire, amended to provide the information so far as possible in English, was agreed, and appears in Appendix 6.

20.2 Action arising
The Technical Committee endorsed the actions given above, and the Commission noted these reports and approved the questionnaire.

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