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

14.1.2 Eastern North Pacific gray whales
The Scientific Committee noted that 150 gray whales were taken by the USSR in 1988 and that one had been struck and lost by the USA. There was a discrepancy in the information regarding the sex ratio of the 1988 catch reported, and the Committee recommended that the Secretariat corresponds with the appropriate Soviet authorities to resolve this difficulty. The Committee expressed its concern that a larger proportion of the Soviet catch had not been sampled, especially for earplugs and reproductive materials. 'The Committee recommended that biological information from the Soviet catch be made available to the proposed Special Meeting on the Comprehensive Assessment of Gray Whales. This meeting is discussed further under Item 9.1/2.6.

14.1.3 Central Atlantic minke whales
The Scientific Committee discussed revised estimates for this stock from the 1987 North Atlantic survey which utilised experimental data collected in 1988. While the Committee recognised the importance of incorporating the effects of environmental factors (e.g. wind speed and sea state) and varying observer efficiency, as had been attempted in the revised analysis, some members held that the structure of the underlying statistical model was inappropriate.

14.1.4 West Greenland stocks
Minke whales
Last year the Commission had set catch limits for one year only for the West Greenland stock of minke whales and many delegations had stressed the need for increased research on West Greenland stocks, particularly with respect to stock identity and stock estimation (this also applied to the fin whale stock, see below). The Scientific Committee again reiterated its concern that there was substantial evidence that West Greenland minke whales did not constitute a separate stock. It believed that if asked to consider stock boundaries today it would not make the same decision as in 1976. However, there was still insufficient evidence to determine where, if anywhere, stock boundaries should be drawn.

This year, the Committee received a revised cue counting estimate for minke whales from the 1987 aerial survey which was further revised during the meeting to take account of duplicate sightings data to 1,930 (CV 0.44). The Committee also had a cue counting estimate from the 1988 aerial survey of 4,602 (CV 0.40). These estimates were not significantly different. The Committee agreed that the best estimate of the number of minke whales off West Greenland was the simple mean of 3,266 (CV 0.31). Approximate 95% confidence intervals were 1,702 - 5,718.

The Scientific Committee also discussed ways of reducing the CVs of the individual estimates of abundance. This was of paramount importance if they were to be used in a management scheme which required series of such estimates (these discussions also applied to fin whales, see below).

The Scientific Committee agreed that an assessment could not be attempted this year for reasons which included the unresolved problems with CPUE series, the lack of an agreed basis for choosing a range of MSY rates and the considerable doubts concerning stock identity. It further agreed that it was not possible to recommend a classification for this stock because it did not believe that the animals found off West Greenland constituted a separate stock. Even if they did, the Committee had no information upon which to determine the status of the stock in relation to MSY level. Given the best estimate of the number of animals in the area of 3,266 whales and its approximate lower bound of 1,702, the Committee believed that such a stock was above a minimum level below which aboriginal subsistence catches could not be taken. The Committee could offer no advice on the size of catches which would allow the stock to move towards MSY level.

The Committee felt, however, that because aboriginal subsistence whaling is likely to continue, it should try to provide advice on the length of time necessary to monitor the stock in order to detect a given rate of change in population size. The results of such an analysis revealed clearly the long-term nature of monitoring. The length of time to respond to a decline would be considerably reduced if the decision to respond were made on the existence of a downward trend, regardless of statistical significance. The Committee concluded that it was important to stress that even with survey estimates with low CVs, monitoring the number of minke whales off West Greenland was a long-term commitment (this also applied to fin whales, see below).

The Scientific Committee made three recommendations with respect to future research on this stock:

(1)

that genetic studies continue and that every attempt be made to make available to relevant research groups existing samples (from Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, USA) and to collect and make available new samples from all areas of the North Atlantic;

(2)

that aerial surveys continue off West Greenland and that attempts be made to reduce the CV of the estimates of abundance;

(3)

that the Commission provide funds for the purchase of a Global Positioning System to be made available to countries conducting aerial surveys of whales in remote areas where other navigation systems are inadequate.

Fin whales
The Scientific Committee had no available information to review boundaries for this stock. A photo-identification study of fin whales had been initiated off West Greenland as recommended last year. A pilot study had resulted in skin biopsies from six whales, and sampling will continue this year. The Committee welcomed the initiation of these studies.

The Scientific Committee had available a revised cue counting estimate from the 1987 aerial survey and an estimate of 961 (CV 0.45) from the 1988 survey.

The Committee agreed that an estimate based on the combined 1987 and 1988 data of I,589 whales (CV 0.35) was the best estimate of the number of fin whales off West Greenland. Approximate 95% confidence limits were calculated as 763 - 2,950 whales. There were insufficient data available to attempt an assessment of this stock.

The Committee was unable to provide advice on classification of this stock because (i) it was not known if it constituted a separate stock and (ii) if it was a separate stock its status in relation to MSY level, initial level or replacement yield was unknown. If it is a separate stock, the small estimate of stock size and its approximate lower bound of 763 are a cause for concern. In particular, the Committee was unable to conclude whether or not the stock is above the minimum level below which aboriginal catches should not be taken. The Committee again felt that because whaling is likely to continue, it was important to try to provide advice on the length of time it would be necessary to monitor the stock - this was discussed in the previous section.

The Scientific Committee also discussed the minimum size limits currently in force for this stock in response to the Danish Commissioner's request last year. The Committee believed that there was insufficient information available at its meeting on the original management goals of the Commission in setting these size limits and that it was thus unable to assess their relevance. It recommended that the effects of imposing size limits be explored within the framework of developing new methods of management.

The Committee made three research recommendations for this stock:

(1)

that genetics studies continue to address the question of stock identity and that new or existing samples from areas adjacent to West Greenland (i.e. Canada, Iceland, USA) be made available to relevant research groups;

(2)

that aerial surveys continue to be carried out to monitor the number of tin whales off West Greenland;

(3)

that fin whale surfacing rate data be collected as a matter of urgency during the forthcoming 1989 North Atlantic Sightings Survey.

14.1.5 St Vincent & The Grenadines humpback whales
The Scientific Committee noted that no humpback whales had been taken in this fishery in 1988/89.

14.2 Report of Technical Committee Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Sub-committee
The report of this Sub-committee, attended by delegates from Australia, People's Republic of China, Denmark, France, Iceland, Japan, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Seychelles, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Sweden, UK, USA, and observers from Canada, was presented by its Chairman, Mr D. Piney (France), the Vice-Chairman of the Technical Committee.

14.2.1 Bering Sea stock of bowhead whales and
14.2.2 Eastern Pacific stock of gray whales
The Sub-committee noted the comments of the Scientific Committee and the catches recorded for the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales and the Eastern Pacific stock of gray whales.

14.2.3 Central Atlantic minke whales
The Sub-committee was told that Denmark had given detailed documentation in 1987 on which a need of 12 animals had been agreed. This annual need figure was still appropriate.

14.2.4 West Greenland stocks
Denmark introduced a report on the subsistence and hunting culture in West Greenland placed in both historical and contemporary contexts. The people had lived for millenia using a multispecies hunting strategy, and their annual need since the turn of the century was for 670 tonnes of whale meat and was expected to remain the same. Any deviations from present dietary patterns could risk introducing diseases of civilisation. The Sub-committee agreed that the detailed and comprehensive papers clearly identified the significance of whale meat in the nutrition of Greenlanders, and the existing catch limits had created problems for the people.

Japan commented on the close resemblance between this case and its own small-type coastal whaling.

Denmark noted that the Scientific Committee agreed that it was not possible to recommend a classification for this stock, and proposed that the classification in Table 1 of the Schedule should be changed so that the stock is unclassified. This proposal was seconded by Iceland and Japan.

The UK pointed out the uncertainties expressed by the Scientific Committee last year, particularly with respect to stock identity and estimation. These doubts persisted and it would not be appropriate to make such a change. The Netherlands and New Zealand shared this position.

Argentina proposed that the Technical Committee should record these remarks, and indicate to the plenary session that there was no consensus on the matter.

14.2.5 St Vincent & The Grenadines humpback whales
Australia drew attention to the aboriginal subsistence nature of the operation under IWC regulations and the fact that St Vincent & The Grenadines had entered a specific reservation in CITES which would allow it to engage in international trade in humpback whale products.

The UK noted that it was preferable to see consistency in this matter. Seychelles suggested that the Technical Committee should have a comment from the Secretariat on the relevant exchanges of view between the two organisations. This suggestion was supported by New zealand, while Japan and St Vincent & The Grenadines believed the matter should be discussed in a CITES forum.

In Technical Committee, Australia recorded its pleasure that no infractions had occurred this year. IWC regulations require the meat and products to be used exclusively in St vincent & The Grenadines, while the CITES reservation raised questions of external trade. This matter should.be resolved through the Secretariats, since it was a question for both. In conclusion, St Vincent & The Grenadines emphasised that it stood by its IWC commitments.

14.3 Action arising
In the Technical Committee, Denmark proposed an annual catch limit of 12 minke whales from the Central Atlantic stock for 1990 - 92. This proposal was seconded by the Federal Republic of Germany, Sweden and Japan and adopted by consensus as a recommendation to the plenary.

Similarly, Denmark proposed in the Technical Committee that catch limits for West Greenland stocks should be set for the two year period 1990 - 91 at a total catch limit of 190 minke whales, with a maximum of 100 in any one year and a total catch limit of 42 fin whales, with a maximum of 23 in any one year. The Federal Republic of Germany seconded this proposal, which was adopted by consensus for recommendation to the plenary.

The Commission endorsed both these amendments to the Schedule.

The Commission took note of all the other issues recorded, and on the question of the St Vincent & The Grenadines humpback whaling and CITES, Australia and St Vincent & The Grenadines agreed that for the sake of coordination and to prevent future misunderstanding, the matter should be pursued through the Secretariats of the two international bodies. The Commission also endorsed the recommendations of the Scientific Committee through the Technical Committee.

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