11. INFRACTIONS, 1988 SEASON

(from "Chairman's Report of the Forty-First Annual Meeting")


11.1 Report of Technical Committee Infractions Sub-committee
The Infractions Sub-committee was attended by delegates from Australia, Denmark, Iceland, Japan, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Sweden, UK and USA, and was chaired by Mrs A.M. Blackburn (UK).

The case of three bottlenose whales taken in the Faroe Islands was being investigated by Denmark which would inform the Secretariat of the outcome as soon as possible. This matter should be considered at the 1990 meeting. A humpback whale taken off West Greenland, while technically an infraction, had been killed for humane reasons. Appreciation was expressed of the substantial efforts made by Denmark and the Greenland Home Rule Authorities to develop an effective system to prevent infractions so that none had occurred this year. Similar appreciation was accorded to St Vincent & The Grenadines that no calves or female whales accompanied by calves had been taken in its operation.

The USA reported that 50% of its catch was under direct inspection by national programmes. Progress is being made to develop a system of national inspection in Greenland which was welcomed. The USSR stated that its catch of 150 whales had all been covered by national inspection.

In considering reports from Contracting Governments, no infractions were recorded in aboriginal subsistence catches and no commercial whaling took place in 1988.


11.2 Action arising
The Technical Committee endorsed the report of the Infractions Sub-committee, which was then approved by the Commission.

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