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Resolution 1995-5

Document type
Resolution
Reference number
1995-5
Date
May 29, 1995
Source
UNEP, InforMEA
Status
Adopted
Subject
Wild species & ecosystems, Sea
Treaty
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (Dec 2, 1946)
Meeting
47th Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC47)
Website
crm.iwc.int
Abstract

WHEREAS the Commission established zero catch limits for commercial whaling in paragraph 10(e) of the Schedule;

AWARE that the Government of Norway, having lodged an objection to paragraph 10(e) of the Schedule, has unilaterally authorised commercial whaling on minke whales in this area in 1994 and in 1995, and that catches are currently underway;

REAFFIRMING the Commission's 1994 decision that, until all aspects of the Revised Management Scheme are incorporated into the Schedule, the Revised Management Procedure should not be implemented;

RECALLING that the Revised Management Procedure endorsed by the Commission at its 46th Annual Meeting requires valid abundance estimates for any whale species and areas to which it is applied;

NOTING the conclusions of the Scientific Committee at the 47th Annual Meeting (IWC/47/4):

(1) The process followed by the Committee when accepting the abundance estimate at its 1992 meeting was not satisfactory. An important factor arising out of the experience of the last two years is that the Committee is developing procedures to minimise the likelihood that similar mistakes happen in the future.

(2) The Committee does not consider the 1992 estimate valid.

(3) The Committee is working extremely hard to produce an estimate for this area (both for the 1989 survey and for the survey to be undertaken this summer) and has made considerable progress towards this end on both theoretical and practical levels. The Committee has recommended a procedure and workplan that should allow it to provide an estimate of abundance for this stock at the next Annual Meeting (Annex M). This process implies considerable work by Committee members.

(4) The Committee is determined to avoid its previous mistake of prematurely accepting an abundance estimate. It agrees that at this meeting it is not in a position to provide an estimate of abundance for this stock. It emphasises that nothing in its Report should be interpreted as implying any particular estimate or range.

(5) The Committee had agreed in 1992 that should the Commission so wish, the RMP could be used to calculate catch limits for North Atlantic minke whales. In view of the lack of an abundance estimate for the Northeastern Atlantic, it believes this is no longer the case until an acceptable estimate is obtained.

WELCOMING the intention of the Government of Norway to collaborate with the other Contracting Governments in the Commission in resolving the outstanding issues on abundance estimation for minke whales in the Northeastern Atlantic;

REAFFIRMING that the Commission shall continue to proceed constructively towards the completion of the RMS;

NOW THEREFORE THE COMMISSION;

NOTES that the Scientific Committee has unanimously agreed that there is currently no valid abundance estimate for minke whales in the Northeastern Atlantic (IWC/47/4); AFFIRMS its view that, notwithstanding the objections that have been entered, commercial whaling should not be taking place while paragraph 10(e) of the Schedule remains in force; Accordingly, CALLS ON the Government of Norway, in the exercise of its sovereign rights, to:- reconsider its objection to paragraph 10(e) of the Schedule; - halt immediately all whaling activities under its jurisdiction.