16. SECOND INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH

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


16.1 Report of the Scientific Committee
Review of progress at the end of the Second Decade
The Scientific Committee had the benefit of a paper prepared by the Secretary reviewing the two decades of cetacean research. This started in 1975 as a response to the call for a ten year moratorium on commercial whaling by the UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972. The Scientific Committee had recommended a decade of intensified research on cetaceans, particularly on problems relevant to their conservation, and had drawn up ambitious plans for world-wide research. In the absence of the substantial funding called for from the Commission or outside sources, a number of priority programmes were supported and carried through in the following years.

The IDCR programme was submitted to the FAO/ACMRR Bergen Consultation in 1976 and consolidated into a broader programme of marine mammal research, but the IDCR concept as originally put forward was never fully realised because of the failure to obtain the major funding required. The single most effective programme undertaken was undoubtedly the series of Southern Hemisphere minke whale assessment cruises. In addition, individual research activities on cetaceans were undertaken, and collaborative planning and research were stimulated.

A second decade, initiated in 1985, became closely bound up with the FAO/UNEP Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Management and Utilisation of Marine Mammals. The IWC endorsed and was expected to take the lead role in implementing the cetacean component of the plan, but the money originally anticipated did not materialise. With the changing focus of priorities in the IWC, the second decade included work associated with the Revised Management Procedure and the Comprehensive Assessment of whale stocks, including genetic identification and abundance of stocks (notably, in the latter category, continuation of the series of circumpolar Antarctic minke whale sightings cruises).

The Secretary had concluded that the original concept of the IDCR (intensified research on cetaceans) has never been achieved over the two decades. This was due to the failure to attract sufficient funds from the IWC, member governments or UN-related bodies to carry out more than the most urgent or attractive programmes.

The Scientific Committee spent a considerable time discussing the need or otherwise for a third IDCR, particularly in the context of the 'grand design' originally envisaged in 1975. It became clear that any discussion of the need for a new broad research programme required a review of the present research priorities of the Committee. This had also been recommended by the intersessional group established to consider the review of research proposals, described below. A number of points were raised during the discussion. It was clear that funding had been a major factor in the history of IDCR and that this was a factor beyond the Scientific Committee's control. Some members commented that several of the new priorities of the Scientific Committee required collaboration with other organisations, as for example 'Effects of Environmental Change on Cetaceans'; and that this would form an increasingly important part of the Scientific Committee's work.

Other members noted that almost all of the priorities for research required the Scientific Committee to provide advice on the status of cetacean stocks, whether when providing advice on direct or indirect removals (aboriginal, commercial, scientific permit, incidental capture), or as input to collaborative studies, for example on the role of cetaceans in the ecosystem.

The Scientific Committee recognised that the term 'IDCR' had become largely synonymous with its major ongoing project, the Southern Hemisphere minke whale assessment cruises, and was rarely considered in the context of the many smaller projects that had been funded under its umbrella.

Some members of the Scientific Committee believed it was appropriate, given the recent changes in priorities, to develop a new programme of research with a new name. The Committee reached no firm conclusions on the responsibilities and objectives, taking into account the recent changes in priorities, but agreed that the matter should be placed on the Agenda of its meeting next year.

In the Commission, Japan recalled the origins of the IDCR programme and the early opposition by some of the members of the Commission to the Antarctic sightings surveys and their results. It pointed out the large catches taken by many nations in earlier years and called for greater international cooperation in elucidating the Antarctic ecosystem.


Review procedure for proposals - report of intersessional correspondence group
As a result of difficulties that arose last year, the Scientific Committee had agreed that it should review its policy on consideration of research proposals and had established an intersessional correspondence group to examine this matter further. The report of the intersessional group, with the comments from the Scientific Committee, detailed a revised procedure for the review of proposals, including the establishment of an intersessional group.

The Scientific Committee endorsed the report and its recommendations. As an interim measure, it agreed that at this meeting, the research proposals should be reviewed by the Convenors.

In addition, the intersessional group had identified a related matter for consideration by the Scientific Committee. It noted that the Scientific Committee's approach to obtaining proposals has been generally passive, receiving and evaluating unsolicited proposals. It drew the Scientific Committee's attention to whether a mechanism should be developed to ensure that important research projects identified by the Scientific Committee are undertaken by any national delegation. Earlier Scientific Committee discussions regarding awarding of contract studies are relevant here.


16.2 Action arising
The Commission took note of the arrangements the Scientific Committee has in place as sensible to continue.

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