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THE MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION COMPENDIUM

MULTILATERAL / MARINE MAMMALS
Volume(s) 1-3; pages 1549-1550


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Amendments to the Schedule to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, Brighton, 1983


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Done at Brighton 23 July 1983


Entered into force 3 November 1983


Primary source citation: International Whaling Commission Circular Communication RG/EE/4989, 5 August 1983


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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

5 August 1983

Our Ref. RG/EE/4989

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

At its 35th Annual Meeting held in Brighton, 18 - 23 July 1953, the International Whaling Commission agreed to the following amendments to the Schedule:

A. SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS (changes and new wording underlined)

1. Revise paragraph 11 as follows:

‘The number of baleen whales taken in the Southern Hemisphere in the 1983/84 pelagic season and the 1984 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.’

2. Revise paragraph 12 as follows:

‘The number of baleen whales taken in the North Pacific Ocean and dependent waters in 1984 and in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1984 shall not exceed the limits shown in Tables 1 and 2.’

3. Amend Tables 1 and 2 as shown in Appendix 1. 4. Amend paragraph 13(b) to read:

(b) Catch limits for aboriginal subsistence whaling are as follows:

(1) the taking of 9 humpback whales not below 35 feet (10.7 metres) in length, per year is permitted in Greenland waters provided that whale catchers of less than 50 gross register tonnage are used for this purpose.

(2) the taking of bowhead whales from the Bering Sea stock by aborigines is permitted, but only when the meat and products of such whales are to be used exclusively for local consumption by the aborigines and further provided that:

(i) for the years 1984 and 1985 the total number of whales struck shall not exceed 432 , provided that in either year the number of whales struck shall not exceed 27.

(ii)

it is forbidden to strike, take or kill calves or any bowhead whale accompanied by a calf.

(3)

The taking of gray whales from the Eastern stock in the North Pacific is permitted, but only by aborigines or a Contracting Government on behalf of aborigines, and then only when the meat and products of such whales are to be used exclusively for local consumption by the aborigines. The number of gray whales taken in accordance with this sub-paragraph in 1984 shall not exceed the limit shown in Table 1. 2 At the end of the first year this figure will be reviewed and if necessary amended on the basis of the advice of the Scientific Committee.

5. Amend Table 3 as shown in Appendix 1. B. EDITORIAL AMENDMENT

Move the heading ‘Area Limits for Factory Ships’ from its present position before paragraph 7 to precede paragraph 8. C. NOTE BY THE SECRETARY

1. In Tables 1, 2 and 3 unclassified stocks are indicated by a dash. Other positions in the Tables have been filled with a dot to aid legibility.

2. The Commission specifically agreed that footnote 2 in Table 3, referring to the 1982 and 1883 catch limits for the sperm whales of the North Pacific Western Division, should be retained in the 1984 Schedule.

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 3 November 1983. 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