CONTENTS

60TH ANNUAL AND ASSOCIATED MEETINGS, SANTIAGO, CHILE 2008

PRESS RELEASE – DAY 5 – FRIDAY  27 JUNE

After completing its regular work on financial and administrative matters, the 60th meeting of the International Whaling Commission finished successfully today in Santiago. On behalf of the Commission, its Chair Dr William Hogarth thanked the Government of Chile for providing the excellent facilities.  The Commission expressed its thanks to Dr Hogarth for his outstanding leadership and work on the discussions on the future of the IWC. It also thanked the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, where Dr Hogarth is Dean, for allowing him to spend the time necessary to work on Commission issues.

Next year’s meeting will be held in Madeira, Portugal, from 28 May to 26 June 2009.

PRESS RELEASE – DAY 4 – THURSDAY  26 JUNE

Today the Commission began by completing its review of the report of the Conservation Committee. Items considered included: the report of a workshop organised by Chile on the southern right whale population of Chile-Peru; information on whalewatching and in particular actions and legislation from around the world; sanctuaries; and national cetacean conservation. Australia introduced a paper it had submitted in the context of the future of the IWC related to conservation monitoring plans.

The Commission then turned to the issue of aboriginal subsistence whaling. The Scientific Committee reports its findings to the Commission’s aboriginal subsistence whaling sub-committee. The report of that sub-committee can be found HERE. Last year, the Commission established catch limits for aboriginal subsistence whaling activities in the USA, Russian Federation, Denmark (Greenland) and St. Vincent and The Grenadines [See HERE].

The main issue this year was a proposal by Denmark for a strike limit of 10 humpback whales annually for the period 2008-2012 for West Greenland. The Scientific Committee had agreed that this strike limit would not harm the population. Discussion in the Commission focussed on whether or not Denmark (Greenland) had satisfactorily documented their need for the additional whales. The Commission was deeply divided over this matter which was put to a vote. The proposal was defeated by 36 votes to 29 with 2 abstentions.

The next item of business related to whale sanctuaries and in particular the proposal for a South Atlantic Sanctuary made by Brazil, Argentina and South Africa that has been discussed several times before within the Commission but not agreed. The Commission received a video presentation in support of the sanctuary. The three countries indicated that in order to facilitate the work on the future of the IWC they would not ask for a vote on this issue. The Chair of the Commission thanked these countries for their constructive attitude.

The Commission then went on to discuss the report of the infractions sub-committee. The Commission endorsed the report and noted the measures taken by Contracting Governments to try to ensure that IWC regulations are not broken.

PRESS RELEASE – DAY 3 – WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE

Today the Commission began with consideration of socio-economic implications and small-type whaling. As in previous years, Japan referred to the hardship suffered by its four community-based whaling communities since the implementation of the commercial whaling moratorium. In previous years, Japan has requested a vote on its proposal to relieve this hardship but this year, because of the progress it saw in the discussions related to the future of the IWC, it did not do so. The Chair of the Commission thanked Japan for its co-operative attitude.

The Commission then turned to the issue of special permit whaling. This year, the Scientific Committee completed its work to develop a new method for the review of such permits. This will involve holding a small expert workshop that will be able to review new proposals, or the results of existing proposals, in an independent manner. Details can be found HERE. The new process will be used for the first time to review the results of the JARPN II programme. The Commission endorsed this process.

With respect to  special permit whaling programmes, In 2007, a total of 551 Antarctic minke whales were taken under the JARPA II programme, while 207 common minke, 100 sei, 50 Bryde’s and 3 sperm whales were taken under the JARPN II programme in the North Pacific.

The sampling stage for the Icelandic programme has now been completed, the 34 common minke whales taken in 2007 bringing the total to 200. When the final results are available, the programme will be subject to an IWC review following the agreed new procedure.

The issue of special permit whaling deeply divides the Commission and as in previous years, strong statements both in favour and against lethal research programmes were made.

The next item of business related to environmental and health issues. It received the report of the Scientific Committee on a number of matters related to environmental factors that affect cetaceans. In particular, the Committee will be holding two important workshops during the intersessional period: one on the effects of climate change on cetaceans; and the other on the second phase of the Commission’s POLLUTION 2000+ programme looking at the effects of chemical pollutants on cetaceans.

After completion of this discussion, for the first time in its history, the Commission allowed non-governmental organisations to address the plenary session. Three NGOs from each side of the spectrum were given five minutes each to speak. The organisations selected by their peers were Cento de Conservacion Cetacea, the High North Alliance, WWF, the Women’s Forum for Fish, Greenpeace and Concepesca.

Finally the Commission received a presentation from the Scientific Committee with respect to the remaining items of its report. In particular, it had undertaken a review of small cetaceans in the southeastern Pacific region (Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile). Relatively little is known about these populations and the Committee developed a number of research recommendations. However, there are matters of conservation concern. The first relates to both habitat degradation and exclusion of small cetaceans from their habitat by aquaculture developments. The second relates to the fact that a number of small coastal populations, including bottlenose dolphin, Peale’s dolphin, and spotted dolphins may be threatened by unregulated and undocumented takes.

The Committee then went on to discuss progress on its previous recommendations on small cetaceans.

The most serious concern of all relates to the probable extinction of the vaquita unless immediate action is taken. There are at most 150 animals left of this species which is only found in the upper Gulf of California, Mexico. The Committee expressed great frustration that despite more than a decade of warnings this species has continued on a rapid path towards extinction due to lack of effective conservation measures. The Committee strongly recommended that if extinction is to be avoided, gillnets should be removed from immediately. The Committee encouraged the international community, including IWC member countries and NGOs to assist Mexico in their conservation measures.

The Committee also reaffirmed its concern about the conservation status of the Boto, and the fact that directed killing of this species continue without restriction or catch limits; the population has probably declined by over 50% in the last decade. The Committee recommended that immediate steps be taken by Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela to stop this hunt, and that range states provide information to next year’s meeting on progress in this regard.

Finally, the Committee reiterated its concern for the stocks of Dall’s porpoise off Japan and repeated its previous recommendation that catches should be reduced to sustainable levels, that the bycatch levels be quantified and that a full assessment of each of the affected populations be conducted as soon as possible.

The Commission endorsed the recommendations of the Scientific Committee with a number of countries echoing the Committee’s concerns over these issues. Mexico announced that it has a US$16m fund for the recovery of the vaquita. Brazil stated that it has established a national working group to examine the issue of the boto.

The Scientific Committee then reported that the IWC IDCR/SOWER (Southern Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research) programme has now been running research cruises in the Antarctic for 30 years. It has provided extremely valuable information on whales in Antarctic waters south of 60°S, especially Antarctic minke whales, blue whales, humpback whales and southern right whales. The research work is designed by the IWC Scientific Committee who also appoint the international scientists; the vessel and crew is generously provided to the Commission by the Government of Japan. To celebrate this achievement, there will be an expanded dedicated section of the IWC website and a special scientific volume.

After completing its discussions on the Scientific Committee report, the Commission then began to look at the report of its Conservation Committee. The first item on its agenda related to the occurrence of small numbers of ‘stinky’ inedible gray whales in the hunt off Chukotka, Russia. Research is underway to try to determine the cause. Attention then turned to the issue of ship strikes (collisions of whales with ships). The Commission has developed an international database to collect information on this problem in order to help it assess its conservation importance by species and area and to assist in the development of mitigation measures. A dedicated section of the website is being developed on the issue of ship strikes and the Commission is working with a number of other relevant organisations on this including IMO, ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS. The Commission has agreed to assist in providing relevant information and data for inclusion in the database.    

PRESS RELEASE – DAY 2 – TUESDAY 24 JUNE

Today the Commission plenary received a report on the result of the extensive discussions that have been underway under the guidance of the Commission’s Chair, Dr Hogarth, on the future of the IWC. Since the last Annual Meeting, the Commission has held an intersessional meeting to consider the future of the IWC to find ways to resolve the issues that have polarised a number of the debates within the organisation. As a result of the productive discussions at that meeting and meetings here in Santiago, the Commission has agreed approaches to:

1. improve the practice and procedures of the Commission; and
2. further discussions/negotiations on substantive issues.

The full text to those recommendations can be found HERE.

The Commission does not pretend that these discussions will be easy but the Chair of the Commission has stressed how important it is to make progress, not only for the future of the IWC but more importantly for the conservation and management of whales.

In addition to its work on the future, the Commission also has to deal with its other business. Today, this included work on whalewatching. The Commission received a presentation from Governor Das Neves of Chubut Province, regarding whalewatching in Argentina. The Commission also received the Scientific Committee’s report on whalewatching.

The Scientific Committee is continuing to work on its work on the Revised Management Procedure.  It is in the middle of its work on North Atlantic fin whales and its work should be completed next year.

Finally, the Commission has agreed to hold a workshop on welfare issues associated with the entanglement of large whales. This important workshop will bring together a group of experts to develop guidelines for dealing with entangled whales. Should circumstances suggest that euthanasia is the most appropriate course of action, then the workshop will provide guidance on the most appropriate methods.

PRESS RELEASE – DAY 1 – MONDAY 23 JUNE

Proceedings of the 60th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission, held in Santiago at the kind invitation of the Government of Chile, began today with speeches of welcome by Alejandro Foxley, the Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ana Lya Uriarte, the Chilean Minister for the Environment.

There are three new members to the Commission bringing the total to 81, of which 72 were present on the first day. The full list of member countries can be found HERE.

The meeting was chaired by Dr William Hogarth, Chair of the Commission. Dr Hogarth said that he looked forward to the same level of co-operation and desire for consensus that had characterised the recent intersessional meeting on the future of the IWC. [SEE HERE]. After adopting the Agenda and a provisional timetable for the week’s deliberations, the Commission then turned to the report of the Scientific Committee which reported on its work related to the status of a number of large whale populations. Meeting documents can be found HERE.

In the afternoon, the Commission turned to the report of the Scientific Committee on the status of a number of large whale stocks. New information was received on Antarctic minke whales, North Pacific common minke whales, Southern Hemisphere humpback whales, Southern Hemisphere blue whales and a number of other small stocks of bowhead, right and gray whales. There was positive evidence of increases in abundance for several of the stocks of humpback, blue and right whales in the Southern Hemisphere, although they remain at reduced levels compared to their pre-whaling numbers. Information remains lacking for other stocks.

Special attention was paid to the status of the endangered western North Pacific gray whale, whose feeding grounds coincide with oil and gas operations off Sakhalin Island, Russian Federation. The population numbers only about 120 animals and although there is evidence that it has been increasing at perhaps 3% per year over the last decade, any additional deaths, for example in fishing gear as has recently occurred, put the survival of the population in doubt. The Commission agreed to work together to try to mitigate anthropogenic threats to this endangered population and there was praise for Japanese efforts to reduce bycatches in it waters. It also recognised the value of continuing to co-operate with the IUCN Western Gray Whale Advisory Committee.

Ship strikes and entanglements are also a threat to the endangered western North Atlantic right whale population which numbers around 300. The Commission agrees again that anthropogenic mortality should be reduced to zero as soon as possible.

After completing its discussions on this part of the Scientific Committee report, the Commission received reports from a number of countries on animal welfare issues related to whales and whaling. These ranged from information on the most appropriate methods for euthanasia for stranded animals to information on killing methods and hunting information from a number of countries. It will return to a proposal for a workshop on welfare issues associated with the entanglement of large whales later in the week.

The Commission then went on to discuss co-operation with other international organizations. It sees such co-operation as an important part of its work, especially in the scientific arena. The Commission is pleased to announce that it has interim observer status at the International Maritime Organisation which will allow co-operation on matters relevant to the conservation of whales.