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

A report was prepared by the Secretary based on information submitted by 12 Contracting Governments in response to a questionnaire developed after the Resolution on whalewatching adopted by the Commission last year. In addition four other member governments presented their late returns to the Working Group.

The Working Group decided to revise the conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary's report and present them as its conclusions and recommendations to the Commission.

Economic aspects
Whalewatching as a commercial enterprise is still in its infancy in many countries. But the rate of growth shown during the past few years suggests that it can become a significant economic activity, at least on a local basis, as it has in the USA.

It is clear that growth in the newly established whalewatching locations is extremely rapid in the first years of the enterprise - to such an extent that Mexico is now limiting further expansion of this activity in the Baja California lagoons to protect the whales and their environment. But it also seems that the growth in most of the USA has flattened out and the industry has effectively stabilised at the present level.

Regulation
The very fact of this rapid growth has led a number of governments to record their concerns over possible impacts on the behaviour, migrations and breeding biology of the various species involved. The number of whalewatching vessels and their deployment around the whales is seen as a potential cause of disturbance to normal activity by the animals, as well as possibly inflicting actual physical harm by collisions and cuts from propellers.

As a result of the perceived or actual disturbance or harm which might result from whalewatching activities, there is a general view reflected on the need for regulations to provide adequate safeguards for the whales. Not all countries have yet reached this stage of control because their whalewatching operations are so new. But some of the more experienced indicate that voluntary guidelines or codes of conduct may not always be strong enough controls.

The general view on the rules or guidelines needed include the number and behaviour of vessels and aircraft and other specific issues which coastal states may need to consider in regulating whalewatching.

One way of enforcing these regulations would be to licence approved operators and employ crews with an appropriate grounding in boat handling which will avoid any detrimental effects on the whales.

Scientific aspects
Scientific studies carried out in conjunction with whalewatching operations were reported to the Working Group.

Evaluation of the full potential of whalewatching activities as regular bases for scientific research does not yet appear to have been addressed in a comprehensive manner. Rather, the commercial operations are treated more as platform of opportunity; but a number of specific scientific programmes do provide spaces for whalewatching visitors who contribute finances and manpower to the activities.

A further important element is the educational role of properly run whalewatching cruises carrying trained personnel who call pass on information on whales and their environment to the passengers. A number of enterprises feature such teaching, not only for school parties but for all visitors.

Recommendations
Specific suggestions for IWC action are to convene a Working Group on whalewatching to:

(i)

meet before the 47th Annual Meeting of the Commission to share experiences about the economic, social, scientific, educational and policy aspects related to whalewatching;

(ii)

exchange information about existing regulations relating to whalewatching;

(iii)

determine the use of whalewatching operations to gather data relevant to the IWC;

(iv)

draw up a set of guidelines to assist coastal states in the management of whalewatching, based on the experience of member countries;

for the Scientific Committee, in order to provide advice on measures to be considered by those developing regulatory frameworks, to

(a)

identify and assess the possible effects of whalewatching operations on cetaceans/whales;

(b)

examine current status of methods of assessment of impacts, including assessment of behavioural change;
and

(c)

provide advice on future whalewatching based on assessment of impacts;

19.2 Action arising
Japan raised the issue of animal rights and the invasion of privacy of the whales, to which the Chairman of the Working Group drew attention to the development of non-lethal uses of whales in the Commission. The report set out the general concern about the harm that might result from whalewatching activities to whale stocks. Thus there is the need for regulation by coastal states with the Commission providing guidelines for such regulation.

The Chairman of the Scientific Committee asked for clarification and the priorities of what was requested of his Committee, and Spain responded that the guidelines on the possible relative impact of different aspects of the effects of whalewatching were sought. Australia suggested that first there should be an identification of whalewatching activities which may have an impact on whales and other cetaceans, and then subsequently some assessment of the seriousness of those impacts from the perspectives of management and conservation. The UK agreed with those priorities which were approved by the Commission.

The Netherlands proposed that the Secretary should attend and report back on a meeting on whalewatching to be held in Italy in Spring 1995. Japan, besides its basic stance relating to the competence of the Commission on this subject, also had reservations about sending an observer to a meeting wholly organised by NGOs. The USA and Australia disagreed with such restraint on attendance at important meetings.

The UK later introduced a Resolution on whalewatching, proposed together with Australia, Austria, France, Germany, India, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the USA. This took account of the useful contributions and discussions thus far and requested further input and activity by the Scientific Committee and the Working Group.

Japan expressed its reservation before the Resolution (Appendix 15) was adopted.

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