15. SECOND INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH

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


15.1 Report of the Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee reviewed the reports from four studies which had been supported in the last year: the IWC/IDCR Southern Hemisphere minke whale assessment cruise; the structure of fin whale populations in the Gulf of St Lawrence and West Greenland; Project YONAH and molecular genetic identification of sex and identity among humpback whales in the Southern Ocean.

Each of the proposals submitted for consideration this year was reviewed by a Working Group on the basis of its relevance to the objectives of the Scientific Committee and the work of the Commission, the scientific quality of the project, its chances of success, the competence of the proposers, the feasibility of the work schedule and the reasonableness of the budget. The Scientific Committee agreed that it should develop more specific guidelines concerning attendance of proposers, associates and cooperators during research proposal discussions and that it should review its policy on consideration of research proposals at next year's meeting. It appointed an intersessional Working Group to examine this matter further.

The Southern Hemisphere minke whale assessment cruise and three other proposals were forwarded by the Scientific Committee to the Finance and Administration Committee with recommendations for funding.

In the Plenary Japan emphasised its commitment to research. The Antarctic stocks had been depleted by overhunting by many countries in the past, including Norway, UK, Netherlands, USA, USSR as well as Japan. These countries did not carry out research now and some criticised Japan for its efforts.


15.2 Action arising
The Commission endorsed the recommendations on research from the Scientific Committee and considered the funding aspects under the Report of the Finance and Administration Committee.

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