8. INFRACTIONS, 1989 SEASON

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


8.1 Report of Technical Committee Infractions Sub-committee
Mr N. 懃en (Norway) presented the Report of the Sub-committee which he had chaired, and which was attended by delegates from Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Japan, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA. Observers from Canada and two NGOs were also present.


Infractions reports
The Sub-committee reviewed the summary of infractions from aboriginal subsistence whaling. No commercial whaling took place in 1989. There was some uncertainty over the question of whether the 179 gray whales including one animal lost by the USSR plus one gray whale taken by the USA together exceeded the catch limit of 179.

Denmark provided information on the infractions reported from Greenland including an excess of three minke whales over the IWC catch limit. The Sub-committee expressed its appreciation of the full explanations given by Denmark, and commended the steps being taken to try to ensure that infractions do not occur.


Previous years
Concerning matters arising from previous years, the Sub-committee again recommended that Peru be urged to submit its outstanding 1984 Infractions Report.


Surveillance
It was noted that the USA reported that 50% of its catch was under direct inspection by national programmes. The Danish efforts to improve its surveillance and reporting system were welcomed. The UK recognised the improvements in reporting procedures in Greenland initiated by Denmark, and supported these efforts.


Checklist of Information
The Checklist of Information Required or Requested under Section VI of the Schedule was summarised and the updated list of national laws and regulations submitted to the Commission noted.

In the Technical Committee the USSR stated that the gray whale reported as lost was not 'taken' in terms of the Schedule since it had only been harpooned and not secured.

Japan asked if the USSR and the USA had a bilateral agreement to prevent the gray whale quota which they share being exceeded. It also questioned the catch of two minke whales by the USA which was not covered by the Schedule. In response, the USA stated that it is willing to discuss bilateral arrangements with the USSR and that it is actively pursuing the matter of the minke whales domestically. Japan expressed the view that the status of the minke whale stock concerned is unknown, and asked for information on the local needs associated with this catch. The USA responded that the local people normally took bowheads and occasional gray whales to satisfy aboriginal subsistence need. It will further investigate the taking of two minke whales in 1989 and report any conclusions to the Commission next year.


8.2 Action arising
The Technical Committee took note of the report of the Infractions Sub-committee, and the Commission endorsed the recommendations it contained.

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