(from "Chairman's Report of the Fortieth Annual Meeting")

13.2 Action arising
The Commission, in reviewing the Report of the Technical Committee, adopted the various recommendations as noted below. It also agreed that all the references to whaling seasons in the Schedule should be updated to reflect the catch limits and stock classifications for 1988-89 and 1989 as appropriate.

13.2.1 Sperm whales
The Scientific Committee had considered the results of sperm whale studies around the Galapagos Islands in 1985 and 1987. These studies had been partially funded by the Commission and the Scientific Committee re-iterated its support for this work.

13.2.2 Minke whales
Southern Hemisphere minke whales
As in previous years, the Scientific Committee concentrated on obtaining abundance estimates of Southern Hemisphere minke whales from sightings data obtained from the IWC/IDCR cruises carried out between 1978/79 and 1986/87. The agreed best estimates, obtained using a methodology adopted the previous year, are given in Table 1. These estimates apply only to that part of each area (in general, approximately 60% of the area south of 60°S) which had been surveyed.

These estimates differ from those provided in 1987 (Rep. int. Whal. Commn 38:43) in that all were obtained using the same agreed procedure and that estimates from the 1985/86 and 1986/87 surveys have been provided. A preliminary attempt to obtain comparable estimates from different surveys in the same areas had been made but further work was needed in this regard.

Japan commented on the success of the IWC/IDCR programme, noting that it had considerably improved knowledge of the abundance of minke whales over the past decade. Its own commitment to the programme was witnessed by the fact that since the inception of the programme in 1978/79, it had donated the operation costs, 2-3 vessels, experienced crews and research scientists each year. Last year its contribution was m, almost twice as much as the IWC's annual budget. It expressed regret that the USSR had not contributed a vessel last year but it hoped that a Soviet vessel may be made available in the future. The estimated abundance of minke whales in the surveyed area was now over 600,000 as compared to the estimate made last year of 450,000 - in 1973 some scientists had believed that the Southern Hemisphere population was as little as 70,000, while others believed it was 350,000. Japan stressed that such a gap of the abundance estimates would be narrowed by more research activities. Japan believed that rational management of these stocks required information on their dynamics and structure as well as absolute abundance and had for this reason developed its own research programme, which could under no circumstances be considered as commercial whaling, and such a viewpoint has not been found in the Scientific Committee report.

The Scientific Committee had made a number of research recommendations and these were endorsed by the Commission.

North Atlantic minke whales
The Scientific Committee had before it a series of papers arising out of the 1987 North Atlantic Sightings Survey (NASS-87), an international survey comprising aerial and shipboard surveys which covered some 30,000 n.miles on transect. The Committee recognised the large amount of work represented by the planning and execution of the Survey and by preliminary analyses of the data. It expressed appreciation to the scientists involved in the survey and to Iceland, Norway, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Spain, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the USA, Japan and the UK for making the research possible, and it looked forward to the results of further analyses at next year's meeting.

Data from these surveys were used in obtaining preliminary estimates of abundance for three North Atlantic minke whale management stocks. The Northeastern stock is discussed below. The Central and West Greenland stocks are discussed under Item 14. A further survey (NASS-89) is discussed under Agenda Item 9 above.

Northeastern stock of minke whales
The Scientific Committee examined the results of NASS-87. A provisional estimate of either 19,112 (CV = 0.163) or 17,014 (CV = 0.179) animals, depending on the survey area considered, was obtained. These estimates were considered provisional as they were based on shipboard surveys with low coverage and no estimate of how many whales were missed on the trackline.

For several reasons discussed in its report, the Scientific Committee agreed not to attempt an assessment of the stock at this year's meeting. Consequently the Committee was unable to provide further advice on the classification of the stock to that given last year (Rep. int. Whal. Commn 38:45), when some members had believed the stock should remain classified as a Protection Stock and others that there was no basis for providing advice on classification.

The Scientific Committee noted that part of the Norwegian five-year programme to study and monitor Northeastern Atlantic minke whales was a major sightings survey in 1988 using six ships and one helicopter. The survey will include an examination of methodological problems identified during NASS-87 and the Scientific Committee welcomed the survey as a valuable contribution to its work.

Okhotsk Sea - West Pacific stock of minke whales
The Scientific Committee examined two papers relating to this stock, one concerning biological and the other sightings data. With respect to the latter, in addition to suggesting improvements to the analysis of existing data, the Committee also requested that the range of future sightings surveys be expanded with the co-operation of the USSR and the USA, since much of the summer distribution of this stock occurs within the 200-mile EEZs of these two countries.

Japan commented that it is important that an analysis of this stock includes an examination of those components found within the waters of the USSR and USA and expressed its willingness to co-operate in research with those nations.

13.2.3 Fin whales
East Greenland - Iceland stock of fin whales
Data from NASS-87 were considered by the Scientific Committee and a preliminary estimate of 5,757 (CV = 0.132) animals for the areas covered by Icelandic vessels was obtained. If an estimate from a Norwegian vessel which covered a different part of the stock area is added, a preliminary estimate of 6,436 (the CV could not be calculated) was obtained.

A simulation programme had been used in conjunction with the preliminary stock estimate, but the Committee agreed that it was inappropriate to utilise this assessment, as it was at a preliminary stage. The Committee recommended a series of simulation studies which should be carried out in order to improve the situation. No recommendations concerning stock classification were made.

Iceland noted that substantial new information on the catch history and current abundance had been presented to the Scientific Committee this year. The stock trajectories given in the Scientific Committee's report indicated that the stock was well above the SMS level and possibly even an Initial Management Stock. However it agreed with the Scientific Committee that the assessment deserves further consideration, particularly with respect to the apparently high MSY rates, and therefore Iceland proposed a deferment of the question of any re-classification of the stock at this meeting. Iceland will carry out the recommendation of the Scientific Committee for more detailed simulation studies during the current year.

The Commission agreed to defer discussion of the classification of this stock at this meeting.

British Isles - Spain - Portugal stock of fin whales
The Scientific Committee had noted a preliminary estimate for the area covered by NASS-87 of 4,485 (95% CI: 3,369 - 5,600).

13.2.4 Iceland - Denmark Strait stock of sei whales
The Scientific Committee examined the results from NASS-87 but concluded that the estimates obtained could not be used for assessment purposes as the surveyed area did not cover the population's summer distribution. The Scientific Committee had recommended that the survey area be extended to cover as much as possible of the population's summer distribution.

Iceland informed the Commission that it would carry out the Scientific Committee's recommendation in the NASS-89 survey.

13.2.5 Western North Pacific stock of Bryde's whales
The Scientific Committee examined an analysis of sightings data obtained during two cruises in the western North Pacific in 1983 and 1984. The Committee identified a series of problems with the analysis and agreed that the estimate obtained could not be used for assessment purposes. It identified further work that was necessary before the stock is next assessed. No recommendations on classification were made.

New Zealand noted that it had last year proposed that this stock be declassified but had agreed to defer its proposal until this meeting. In the light of the Scientific Committee's Report it agreed to again defer its proposal but expressed its hope that the Scientific Committee would attempt to assess this stock at its next meeting if possible.

13.2.6 Bottlenose whales
The only stock of bottlenose whales included in the Schedule is the North Atlantic stock. This was not assessed by the Scientific Committee.

13.2.7 Protected species
The only stocks of protected species assessed by the Scientific Committee were those subject to aboriginal subsistence whaling. These are discussed under Item 14 below.

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