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

10.2 Report of Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Sub-committee
10.2.1 Aboriginal subsistence whaling scheme
Last year the Commission asked the Scientific Committee to investigate potential management regimes for aboriginal subsistence whaling. The Scientific Committee reviewed the existing scheme and discussed possible approaches to develop any new scheme. The Scientific Committee recommended that a Steering Group be established to examine a number of items - terminology, data and information, generic versus case-specific approaches, incorporation of 'need', risk and performance criteria and associated statistics, a framework for testing, and definition of a first set of simulation trials. On the question of need the Scientific Committee suggested a number of approaches for further investigation.

The Scientific Committee considered it would be difficult to make substantial progress at an Annual Meeting on a new scheme and recommended that a three day Workshop be held immediately prior to the 1996 Annual Meeting to address this subject.

During the discussion of the Report of the Scientific Committee some delegations saw no urgent need to change the present system. One delegation drew attention to the Scientific Committee's conclusion that the current system was successfully implemented for the bowhead stock. Delegations expressed various preferences as to how the question of need should be addressed but the Sub-committee did accept the recommendation to set up a Steering Group and hold a three day Workshop.

In the Commission, Spain, Brazil, Switzerland, Japan, Netherlands and the USA expressed their support for the approach being adopted by the Scientific Committee. Denmark saw no problem in an increase in catch limits if they are sustainable and meet recognised needs, and thought any discussion should take place after completion of the RMS. Australia on the other hand suggested that this issue remain a high priority for the Scientific Committee. India believed that the subsistence communities are evolving and that aboriginal whaling should be phased out gradually. The Russian Federation stated its view that the current management scheme has been effective and there is no need for a new management scheme.

10.2.2 Carry-over of strikes in the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales catch limit
The Scientific Committee recognised that there is an existing scheme that regulates the carry-over of unused strikes and recommended that any proposed alternative aboriginal whaling management scheme should consider the incorporation of this. The Sub-committee agreed with this recommendation.

Australia reminded the Commission that it had requested consideration of this matter from last year because of a difference of interpretation of the Schedule amendment adopted. It suggested that there should be a simple rule that a maximum of ten strikes could be carried forward between years. This interpretation was shared by New Zealand, but the USA thought that unused strikes from any earlier years could be carried forward so long as the total did not exceed ten. It emphasised that carry-overs give flexibility to accommodate the needs of the communities. Brazil voiced its concern that carry-overs defeat the idea of quotas, there appeared to be no scheme as such, and preferred the Australian interpretation. Oman felt there was no reason to transfer an unused quota because the need for that year had been met.

10.2.3 Annual review of aboriginal subsistence whaling catch limits
10.2.3.1 BERING-CHUKCHI-BEAUFORT SEAS STOCK OF BOWHEAD WHALES
After reviewing the methodology used by the Scientific Committee, the Sub-committee saw no reason to change the management advice given. The Netherlands recalled that a number of countries had expressed reservations the previous year about the meat yield that catches of this stock represented and the need for observer schemes and asked for further information. The USA said that information on meat yield had been provided last year and that it always invited observer participation.

10.2.3.2 NORTH PACIFIC EASTERN STOCK OF GRAY WHALES
New Zealand said that it understood that the vessel previously being used for catching operations was no longer in service, and that the local community had reverted to using smaller vessels and hand-held harpoons. This could have implications for strike and catch rates. The Chairman of the Scientific Committee said that the take for the stock was below the level that might cause concern. The change in hunting methods had been brought to the attention of the Scientific Committee, but it was unable to assess its implications on the basis of available information. The Scientific Committee would welcome further data from Russia. The Russian Federation indicated that the data for 1994 would be made available shortly, and in response to further questioning by New Zealand in the Commission, reviewed the data already submitted and indicated that the government was unaware of any whales being struck but not landed.

The UK said that when the Commission had set quotas for the stock the previous year, papers submitted by the Russian Federation had made it clear that the bone and blubber from the whales were used in fur farms but the meat was for human consumption. The UK had raised its concerns with the Russian Federation about recent allegations that the meat was given to fur farms and hoped the Russian Federation would be able to respond. The Russian Federation informed the Sub-committee that it expected that the information for 1994 on this issue could be made available shortly and reiterated the relevant information submitted last year when the UK repeated its request in the Commission.

10.2.3.3 OTHER BUSINESS
St Vincent and the Grenadines reported that no catches had been taken this year.

The USA said that following the recovery of the Eastern Pacific stock of gray whales the Makah Indian Tribe had expressed an interest in taking five gray whales for ceremonial and subsistence purposes. The USA might therefore wish to submit a formal proposal for this at a future date. The Russian Federation said that at the 1996 Annual Meeting it would request an aboriginal subsistence annual quota of five Greenland (bowhead) whales within the framework of the existing quota. Brazil expressed disappointment that aboriginal whaling was on the increase.

In the Commission, Australia looked forward to examining the assessment of need on which the proposed catch may be based after 50 years without whaling by the Makah tribe. The Netherlands, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland and Oman associated themselves with this view and the concern over the proposed increase in the catches. Norway stated its emphasis on using the present stability of catches and the recovery of the stock, rather than whaling conducted many years ago, for setting a quota. Japan commented that after eight years of demonstrating its need it had again been ignored this year.

10.3 Action arising
No other actions were taken beyond those noted above.

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