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Resolution 1994-1

Document type
Resolution
Reference number
1994-1
Date
May 23, 1994
Source
UNEP, InforMEA
Status
Adopted
Subject
Wild species & ecosystems, Sea
Treaty
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (Dec 2, 1946)
Meeting
46th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC46)
Website
crm.iwc.int
Abstract

The International Whaling Commission;

AWARE that Article V.1(f) of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling provides that the Commission may amend the Schedule to prohibit or specify the types of gear and apparatus to be used in whaling operations;

RECALLING that the 1980 Workshop on Humane Killing Techniques for Whales (IWC/33/15) recommended that "controlled studies be undertaken to determine the effect of electrocution" in order that electrical methods might be evaluated as a humane killing technique for whales;

RECALLING the discussion which took place during the 1992 Workshop on Whale Killing Methods convened by the Commission, and the resulting Resolution on Humane Killing, adopted by consensus, approving an 11 point action plan as the basis for advice to members of the IWC; and that point 4 of the action plan is to "review effectiveness of secondary methods with a view to reducing time to death";

NOTING the difficulties that have been identified in IWC discussions over a number of years over the effective application of the electric lance as a secondary method of killing whales; including the need for accurate placement of electrodes, and a frequent need for multiple applications;

CONCERNED that the conclusions of preliminary research made available to the 46th IWC annual meeting indicated the probable ineffectiveness of the electric lance as a secondary killing method in modern whaling activities; and that the electric lance was accordingly not a humane method of secondary killing;

NOTING that no further data have yet been made available to assess times to death achieved by the use of the electric lance;

WELCOMING the discussion at IWC 46 on the electric lance and, in particular, the willingness expressed by participants to provide and exchange relevant information over the period prior to the 1995 Workshop on Humane Killing; Now therefore;

CALLS upon member governments that use the electric lance, or have conducted studies on its efficacy as a secondary killing method, to exchange relevant information over the period prior to the Workshop on Humane Killing so that a thorough review of this method can be conducted at that time, and decisions taken will be based on the best available information;

URGES member governments to submit all available information on the use of the electric lance as a secondary killing method to the Workshop on Humane Killing due to take place prior to the 47th annual meeting;

RECOMMENDS that acknowledged experts in matters relevant to discussion about the electric lance be invited to participate in the Workshop on Humane Killing; and determines to find means facilitating their involvement;

AGREES to consider, at its 47th annual meeting, in the light of the currently available information on the technique and its application, also the advice of the forthcoming Workshop on Humane Killing, recommending an alternative to the electric lance as a method of secondary killing;

CALLS upon member governments, in the meantime, to develop more satisfactory methods of killing whales which will lead to reduced times to death.