CONTENTS

SMALL CETACEANS

The 1946 Convention does not define a ‘whale’, although a list of names in a number of languages of a dozen whales was annexed to the Final Act of the Convention. Some governments take the view that the IWC has the legal competence to regulate catches only of these named great whales. Others believe that all cetaceans, including the smaller dolphins and porpoises, also fall within IWC jurisdiction. It is agreed that the Scientific Committee can study and provide advice on the small cetaceans. As part of this programme, the Scientific Committee has investigated many species and carried out major reviews of significant directed and incidental catches of small cetaceans, and the mortality of cetaceans in passive fishing nets and traps.

Despite the different views of the member countries over the question of legal competence, the IWC does recognise the need for further international co-operation to conserve and rebuild depleted stocks of small cetaceans. It has encouraged countries to seek scientific advice on small cetaceans from the IWC and also invited IWC member nations to provide technical or financial assistance to countries with threatened small cetaceans stocks. The IWC has also established a voluntary fund to assist participation by developing countries in these matters.

Each year the Scientific Committee, through its sub-committee on small cetaceans, identifies priority species/regions for consideration by a review. Topics considered include distribution, stock structure, abundance, seasonal movements, life history, ecology and directed and incidental takes. Reviews conducted in recent years have considered the status of monodontid whales (white whales and narwhals), freshwater cetaceans (Irrawaddy dolphin, tucuxi, boto, Indus river dolphin, Ganges river dolphin, finless porpoise and baiji), Dall’s propoise, humpback dolphins and small cetaceans of the Baltic Sea.

In addition, other important topics are annually monitored including:

1. the recovery of the vaquita – a critically endangered species of porpoise endemic to the Gulf of California, Mexico;
2. use and effectiveness of bycatch mitigation measures e.g. acoustic devices, to reduce the large numbers of small cetaceans incidentally caught in fishing gear;
3. cooperation with ASCOBANS on implementation of a recovery plan for harbour porpoises in the Baltic Sea;
4. updates of progress on any previous recommendations made by the Scientific Committee.

(A summary of the most recent work of the Scientific Committee can be found HERE).

Representatives from the Scientific Committee are invited to attend as observers at meetings of both ASCOBANS and ACCOBAMS to facilitate cooperation on matters of small cetacean conservation.