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

13.1.1 Revised Management Procedure (RMP)
The Scientific Committee had developed the full documentation of the program to implement the Catch Limit Algorithm (CLA) and the control programs implementing the simulation trials, which fulfilled the Commission's requirements on this matter. Concerning minimum standards for data, the Scientific Committee had identified that for input to the CLA the minimum catch data required are the date and position of capture or striking, and the species and sex of each animal. For estimates of absolute abundance, specific recommendations were made on notification and provisions for cooperation, documentation of the survey, data requirements, and analysis requirements.

Discussion in the Scientific Committee of other requirements for data not directly used in the RMP revealed two views as to whether they could be considered as minimum requirements. Most members thought they were not, but others believed that independent monitoring of the performance of the RMP and the status of stocks should be considered as a minimum requirement for the RMS.

Notwithstanding this difference, all members of the Scientific Committee agreed that it was appropriate for the Committee to recommend that certain additional data be required to be collected from whaling operations. This might best be achieved by an enabling paragraph in the Schedule such as the one given in its report. The Scientific Committee recommended that these data should include length; foetus length and sex; material for age determination (earplugs/bullae) and reproductive status (ovaries); and tissue for genetic studies. Only the last was not already covered in some form in the Schedule. It also recommended retention of the requirement to collect operational data.

Discussion in the Technical Committee revealed a broad agreement to forward these recommendations. There was a difference of opinion on whether or not independent monitoring is a minimum requirement of the RMS, and the precise details of the tissue sampling requirements.

The Technical Committee approved the guidelines for conducting surveys and analysing data developed by the Scientific Committee, the protocol for evaluating amendments to the RMP, and the procedure for amendment of case-specific implementations.

The Scientific Committee recommended formal adoption of the specification of the RMP by the Commission and endorsement of the annotations. After clarification that catches would start to be phased out over a five year period, starting eight years after the last abundance estimate, the Technical Committee accepted this procedure with reservations by the USA and the UK until the monitoring issue is resolved.

The Technical Committee noted that the Scientific Committee recommended great caution before considering any changes to this specification, as it was the product of a long and difficult development.

Last year the Commission agreed that arrangements are needed to ensure that total catches do not exceed the catch limit over time. Some members of the Scientific Committee had suggested that the use of the catch-capping option in the RMP would go some way to meet these concerns but other members had disagreed. A similar divergence of opinion was voiced in the Technical Committee. One view was that little loss of catch would occur, and the other that catch-capping goes further than needed and should be considered in each individual case.

In the plenary discussion, Japan quoted minority statements in the Report of the Scientific Committee supporting the view that improvements in monitoring the stocks should not preclude implementation of the RMS for stocks having passed the test encompassed by the implementation trial process provided that the principle of monitoring is made a part of the RMS. The USA felt strongly that monitoring must be made a part of the RMS before it can be considered complete. Norway, the UK and Japan supported the need to collect biological data, and the former thought that the RMP could be adopted at this meeting.

13.1.2 Southern Hemisphere baleen whales
The Technical Committee noted the recommendations of the Scientific Committee concerning future work on the methodology for estimating abundance, humpback stock identity and shore-based, aerial and photo-based studies to estimate abundance and trends. A start has been made on a comprehensive review of the food and feeding habits of southern baleen whales.

The Scientific Committee recommended recognition of the distinction between the normal and dwarf forms of minke whale. These two forms had been identified in Japanese research catches. Questions were asked about the value and practical implications of the distinction, also whether abundance estimates existed for the two forms of minke whales. The Technical Committee agreed that these matters should be reconsidered when catch limits for minke whales are set.

Japan drew the attention of the plenary to its paper describing the more northerly distribution (north of the Antarctic Convergence) and distinctive white patch on the base of the flipper of the dwarf form of the minke whale, which is considered to be at its virgin level. It will provide more information directly to New Zealand in response to the latter's further questions.

13.1.3 North Pacific minke whales
A three day working group meeting of the Scientific Committee specified a two phase process, first to develop an initial range of simple options for the application of the RMP and secondly to determine over several iterations the final range to be tested by trials for implementation.

Discussion in the Technical Committee revealed that further data may become available so that final advice would not be formulated until 1995 and, therefore, an intersessional meeting of the Scientific Committee is unnecessary. Japan spoke of the need for cooperation with other nations adjoining the Sea of Japan - Yellow Sea region.

13.1.4 North Atlantic minke whales
The Technical Committee noted the work in the Scientific Committee on analysis of CPUE data.

13.1.5 Southern Hemisphere minke whales
Relevant matters were dealt with elsewhere in the Commission's agenda.

13.1.6 Other stocks - North Pacific Bryde's whales
The Scientific Committee had set up a steering group to plan for an assessment to be carried out at the 1995 meeting. The Technical Committee noted the need for information held to be provided by all countries, and the USA intimated that contact with non-member governments should be discussed under Any Other Business in the plenary agenda.

13.1.7 Future work plans
The Scientific Committee agreed that its highest priorities for the coming year were: the ongoing Comprehensive Assessment of Southern Hemisphere baleen whales, in particular Southern Hemisphere humpback whales; reassessment of the status of the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales and the eastern stock of North Pacific gray whales; further work relating to the Revised Management Scheme, in particular, relating to implementation of the RMP for North Pacific minke whales; preparations for a Comprehensive Assessment of North Pacific Bryde's whales. The Technical Committee endorsed this programme of work.

In the plenary the USA requested that the Scientific Committee identify the data which must be reported to ensure adequate monitoring to complete its discussions begun this year, and noted tissue samples for genetic studies as another data requirement for stock identity. In response to Japan, the USA stressed that monitoring is a scientific matter; and discussion had not yet occurred which would allow it to withdraw its reservation on the adoption of the RMP as requested by Norway.

13.2 Review of Schedule paragraph 10(e) and other related paragraphs
No action was taken under this item.

13.3 Action arising
The Technical Committee agreed to report all these matters to the plenary, which decided to deal with relevant matters under the related agenda Item 14.

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