× Information on this section of ECOLEX comes from the InforMEA Portal which compiled information from MEA Secretariats with the support of the European Union. The accuracy of the information displayed is the responsibility of the originating data source. In case of discrepancy the information as displayed on the respective MEA website prevails. Resolution on Western North Pacific Gray Whale Document type Resolution Reference number 2001-3 Date Jul 23, 2001 SourceUNEP, InforMEA Status Adopted Subject Wild species & ecosystems, Sea Treaty International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (Dec 2, 1946) Meeting 53rd Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC53) Website crm.iwc.int Abstract Resolution 2001-3 Resolution on Western North Pacific Gray Whale RECALLING that the Commission passed a Resolution on Small Populations of Highly Endangered Whales (Resolution 1999-7) at its 51st (1999) meeting, which included the western North Pacific gray whale stock; CONCERNED that IUCN listed the western gray whale as “critically endangered” in 2000 because of its geographic and genetic isolation combined with the small population size and possibility that fewer than 50 reproductive individuals exist; ALARMED by the report of the 2001 Scientific Committee report that the population is less than 100 whales with only 12 adult females bearing calves, observation of “skinny” whales for the first time in 1999, lower than expected number of calves in 2000, some of the few calves produced in recent years are not returning to the feeding grounds, and all recent calves born in the population were males; WELCOMING the Scientific Committee recommendation that as a matter of absolute urgency that long-term research and management for western North Pacific gray whales be continued and expanded; COMMENDING the progress made by the joint Russian-American research and monitoring programmes and the various groups supporting these efforts; NOTING the management recommendations of the 2001 Scientific Committee which stresses that it is a matter of absolute urgency that every effort be made to reduce anthropogenic mortality to zero and to reduce various types of anthropogenic disturbances to the lowest possible level; FURTHER NOTING the unique opportunity to continue the long-term in-depth study of one of the world’s most endangered whale populations and the valuable insight the work on western gray whales has to better understand the dynamics of other populations of critically endangered whale populations. NOW THEREFORE THE COMMISSION: CALLS UPON range states and others to continue to actively pursue all practicable actions to eliminate anthropogenic mortality in this stock and to minimize anthropogenic disturbances in the migration corridor and on their breeding and feeding grounds; URGES range states and others interested in the western gray whale stock to strongly support an expanded research, monitoring and management program for the whales; ENDORSES all conclusions and recommendations of the 2001 Scientific Committee on western gray whales including that “every effort must be made to reduce anthropogenic mortality (including directed catches) to zero and to reduce various types of anthropogenic disturbances to the lowest possible level”. REQUESTS range states for this species and the other stocks noted in Resolution 1999-7 to report back to the Scientific Committee at the IWC 54 (2002), and annually thereafter, on progress made on the above conservation and management recommendations.