Amendments to the Schedule to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, Brighton, 1982

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International Whaling Commission The Red House, Station Road, Histon, Cambridge CB4 4NP Telephone: Histon (022023) 3971 Telegrams: Interwhale Cambridge Telex: 817960

Chairman Mr. E. H. Iglesias (Argentina) Vice-Chairman Mr. E. Lemche (Denmark) Secretary Dr. Ray Gambell

6 August 1982

Our Ref. RG/VC/EE/4529

CIRCULAR COMMUNICATIONS TO CONTRACTING GOVERNMENTS International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, 1946 Amendments to the Schedule

At its 34th Annual Meeting held in Brighton, 19-24 July 1982, the International Whaling Commission agreed to the following amendments to the Schedule:

A. SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS (changes and new wording underlined)

1. Amend paragraph 9(d) to read:

‘(d) Geographical boundaries in the North Pacific. The geographical boundaries for sperm, Bryde's and minke whale stocks in the North Pacific are:

Sperm whale stocks [unchanged] Bryde's whale stocks [unchanged]

Minke whale stocks

Sea of Japan - Yellow Sea - East China Sea West of a line through the Philippine Islands, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Kyushu, Honshu, Hokkaido and Sakhalin Island, north of the Equator.

Okhotsk Sea - West Pacific East of the Sea of Japan - Yellow Sea - East China Sea stock and west of 180°, north of the Equator.

Remainder East of the Okhotsk Sea - West Pacific stock, north of the Equator.’

2. Add new sub-paragraph 10(e):

‘Notwithstanding the other provisions of paragraph 10, catch limits for the killing for commercial purposes of whales from all stocks for the 1986 coastal and the 1985/86 pelagic seasons and thereafter shall be zero until the Commission decides otherwise. This provision will be kept under review, based on the best scientific advice, and by 1990 at the latest the Commission will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the effects of this decision on whale stocks and consider modification of this provision and the establishment of other catch limits.’

3. Revise paragraph 11 as follows:

‘The number of baleen whales taken in the Southern Hemisphere in the 1982/83 pelagic season and the 1983 coastal season shall not exceed the limits shown in Tables 1 and 2. However, in no circumstances shall the sum of the Area catches exceed the total catch limit for each species.’

4. Revise paragraph 12 as follows:

‘The number of baleen whales taken in the North Pacific Ocean and dependent waters in 1983 and in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1983 shall not exceed the limits shown in Tables 1 and 2.’

5. Amend Tables 1 and 2 as shown in Appendix 1. 6. Amend paragraph 13 as follows:

1. A new paragraph (a) is added:

‘ (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 10, catch limits for aboriginal subsistence whaling to satisfy aboriginal subsistence need for the 1984 whaling season and each whaling season thereafter shall be established in accordance with the following principles:

(1) For stocks at or above the MSY level, aboriginal subsistence catches shall be permitted so long as total removals do not exceed 90 percent of MSY.

(2) For stocks below the MSY level but above a certain minimum level, aboriginal subsistence catches shall be permitted so long as they are set at levels which will allow whale stocks to move to the MSY level.*

(3) The above provisions will be kept under review, based upon the best scientific advice, and by 1990 at the latest the Commission will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the effects of these provisions on whale stocks and consider modification.’

Footnote to paragraph 13(a)(2):

*The Commission, on advice of the Scientific Committee, shall establish as far as possible (a) a minimum stock level for each stock below which whales shall not be taken, and (b) a rate of increase towards the MSY level for each stock. The Scientific Committee shall advise on a minimum stock level and on a range of rates of increase towards the MSY level under different catch regimes.

2.

Existing paragraph (a) is redesignated as paragraph (b) and the words ‘catch limits for aboriginal subsistence whaling are as follows:’ are substituted for the words ‘notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 10’. Existing paragraph (b) is redesignated as sub-paragraph (3) of new (b).

3. Add a new sub-paragraph (4) to new paragraph (b):

(4)The taking by aborigines of minke whales from the West Greenland stock and fin whales from the West Greenland stock is permitted and then only when the meat and products are to be used exclusively for local consumption. The number of whales taken in accordance with this sub-paragraph shall not exceed the limits shown in Table 1.

4.

Add a new footnote 7 to Table 1 to read as follows:

‘Of the total numbers shown, a proportion corresponding to needs may be taken by aborigines pursuant to paragraph 13 (b) (4).’

Existing footnote 8 is redesignated as footnote 9. The entry in Table 1 for the West Greenland stock of fin whales is footnoted with an additional provision as follows:

‘Available to be taken by aborigines pursuant to paragraph 13 (b) (4).’

Correct numbering of final sub-section of paragraph 28(a) (2) to read ‘(iii)’.

The additional footnotes agreed in section A.6.4 above have been inserted in Table 1 as shown in Appendix 1. Footnote 7 was not specifically allocated to any stock. Since the second footnote (inserted as 8) is associated with the West Greenland stock of fin whales, the Secretary has assumed that footnote 7 should be read in conjunction with the other stock identified in new paragraph 13(b) (4), that is the West Greenland stock of minke whales.

In Tables 1 and 3 unclassified stocks and those for which no catch limit has been set are indicated by a dash. Other positions in the Tables have been filled with a dot to aid legibility.

These amendments become effective with respect to each Contracting Government ninety days following the date of this letter, in accordance with Article V of the Convention, unless any Contracting Government lodges an objection, in which case the procedure under Article V, paragraph 3 of the Convention will be followed.

The ninety days period will expire on 4 November 1982. In the absence of objections by that date the amendments will become effective. Contracting Governments will be notified accordingly.

Contracting Governments are reminded that Article V paragraph 3 of the Convention requires them to acknowledge receipt of this notification of amendments, a copy of which is being sent to each Commissioner.

Dr. R. Gambell Secretary to the Commission