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International Whaling Commission
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, 1946

SCHEDULE

(As amended by the Commission at the 50th Annual Meeting 1998, and replacing that dated February 1998)



 

THIS IS NOT A FACSIMILE EDITION. IT HAS BEEN MODIFIED STYLISTICALLY FOR EASE OF USE ON THE WEB. THE OFFICIAL SCHEDULE IS THE PRINTED VERSION AVAILABLE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSION 



CONTENTS:

  1. INTERPRETATION (Definitions: baleen whales; toothed whales; general)
  2. SEASONS (Factory ship operations; land station operations; other operations)
  3. CAPTURE (Methods; Sanctuaries; area limits for factory ships; classification of Areas and Divisions; geographical boundaries for management stocks; classifications of stocks under the 'New Management Procedure'; pause in commercial whaling; baleen whale catch limits; aboriginal subsistence whaling - principles and catch limits; baleen whale size limits; sperm whale catch limits; sperm whale size limits)
  4. TREATMENT (operational details)
  5. SUPERVISION AND CONTROL (Inspection; observers; remuneration; measurements)
  6. INFORMATION REQUIRED (Information required from whaling operations including: operational details; biological details; scientific permits; laws and regulations)


 
 

EXPLANATORY NOTES

The Schedule contains the amendments made by the Commission at its 50th Annual Meeting 1998.

The amendments which are shown in green bold type came into effect on 1 September 1998. 

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. 

Numbered footnotes are integral parts of the Schedule formally adopted by the Commission. Other footnotes are editorial. 

The Commission was informed in June 1992 by the ambassador in London that the membership of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling from 1948 is continued by the Russian Federation. 

The Commission recorded at its 39th (1987) meeting the fact that references to names of native inhabitants in Schedule paragraph 13(b)(4) would be for geographical purposes alone, so as not to be in contravention of Article V.2(c) of the Convention (Rep. int. Whal. Commn 38:21).
 
 


I. INTERPRETATION

1. The following expressions have the meanings respectively assigned to them, that is to say: 

A. Baleen whales
 
"baleen whale"  means any whale which has baleen or whale bone in the mouth, i.e. any whale other than a toothed whale. 
"blue whale" (Balaenoptera musculus means any whale known as blue whale, Sibbald's rorqual, or sulphur bottom, and including pygmy blue whale. 
"bowhead whale" (Balaena mysticetus means any whale known as bowhead, Arctic right whale, great polar whale, Greenland right whale, Greenland whale. 
"Bryde's whale" (Balaenoptera edeni, B. brydei)  means any whale known as Bryde's whale. 
"fin whale" (Balaenoptera physalus means any whale known as common finback, common rorqual, fin whale, herring whale, or true fin whale. 
"gray whale" (Eschrichtius robustus means any whale known as gray whale, California gray, devil fish, hard head, mussel digger, gray back, or rip sack. 
"humpback whale" (Megaptera novaeangliae means any whale known as bunch, humpback, humpback whale, humpbacked whale, hump whale or hunchbacked whale. 
"minke whale" (Balaenoptera acutorostrata, B. bonaerensis means any whale known as lesser rorqual, little piked whale, minke whale, pike-headed whale or sharp headed finner. 
"pygmy right whale" (Caperea marginata means any whale known as southern pygmy right whale or pygmy right whale. 
"right whale" (Eubalaena glacialis, E. australis means any whale known as Atlantic right whale, Arctic right whale, Biscayan right whale, Nordkaper, North Atlantic right whale, North Cape whale, Pacific right whale, or southern right whale. 
"sei whale" (Balaenoptera borealis means any whale known as sei whale, Rudolphi's rorqual, pollack whale, or coalfish whale. 

  B. Toothed whales
 
"toothed whale"  means any whale which has teeth in the jaws. 
"beaked whale"  means any whale belonging to the genus Mesoplodon, or any whale known as Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), or Shepherd's beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi). 
"bottlenose whale"  means any whale known as Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), Arnoux's whale (Berardius arnuxii), southern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon planifrons), or northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus). 
"killer whale" (Orcinus orca means any whale known as killer whale or orca. 
"pilot whale"  means any whale known as long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melaena) or short-finned pilot whale (G. macrorhynchus). 
"sperm whale" (Physeter macrocephalus means any whale known as sperm whale, spermacet whale, cachalot or pot whale. 

C. General
 
"strike"  means to penetrate with a weapon used for whaling. 
"land"  means to retrieve to a factory ship, land station, or other place where a whale can be treated. 
"take"  means to flag, buoy or make fast to a whale catcher. 
"lose"  means to either strike or take but not to land. 
"dauhval"  means any unclaimed dead whale found floating. 
"lactating whale"  means (a) with respect to baleen whales - a female which has any milk present in a mammary gland, (b) with respect to sperm whales - a female which has milk present in a mammary gland the maximum thickness (depth) of which is 10cm or more. This measurement shall be at the mid ventral point of the mammary gland perpendicular to the body axis, and shall be logged to the nearest centimetre; that is to say, any gland between 9.5cm and 10.5cm shall be logged as 10cm. The measurement of any gland which falls on an exact 0.5 centimetre shall be logged at the next 0.5 centimetre, e.g. 10.5cm shall be logged as 11.0cm. However, notwithstanding these criteria, a whale shall not be considered a lactating whale if scientific (histological or other biological) evidence is presented to the appropriate national authority establishing that the whale could not at that point in its physical cycle have had a calf dependent on it for milk. 
"small-type whaling"  means catching operations using powered vessels with mounted harpoon guns hunting exclusively for minke, bottlenose, beaked, pilot or killer whales. 

 

II. SEASONS

Factory Ship Operations
 
2.
(a) It is forbidden to use a factory ship or whale catcher attached thereto for the purpose of taking or treating baleen whales except minke whales, in any waters south of 40° South Latitude except during the period from 12th December to 7th April following, both days inclusive. 
  (b) It is forbidden to use a factory ship or whale catcher attached thereto for the purpose of taking or treating sperm or minke whales, except as permitted by the Contracting Governments in accordance with sub-paragraphs (c) and (d) of this paragraph, and paragraph 5.
  (c)  Each Contracting Government shall declare for all factory ships and whale catchers attached thereto under its jurisdiction, an open season or seasons not to exceed eight months out of any period of twelve months during which the taking or killing of sperm whales by whale catchers may be permitted; provided that a separate open season may be declared for each factory ship and the whale catchers attached thereto.
  (d) Each Contracting Government shall declare for all factory ships and whale catchers attached thereto under its jurisdiction one continuous open season not to exceed six months out of any period of twelve months during which the taking or killing of minke whales by the whale catchers may be permitted provided that:
    (1) a separate open season may be declared for each factory ship and the whale catchers attached thereto;
    (2) the open season need not necessarily include the whole or any part of the period declared for other baleen whales pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.
3
It is forbidden to use a factory ship which has been used during a season in any waters south of 40° South Latitude for the purpose of treating baleen whales, except minke whales, in any other area except the North Pacific Ocean and its dependent waters north of the Equator for the same purpose within a period of one year from the termination of that season; provided that catch limits in the North Pacific Ocean and dependent waters are established as provided in paragraphs 12 and 16 of this Schedule and provided that this paragraph shall not apply to a ship which has been used during the season solely for freezing or salting the meat and entrails of whales intended for human food or feeding animals.

 

Land Station Operations
 
4 (a) It is forbidden to use a whale catcher attached to a land station for the purpose of killing or attempting to kill baleen and sperm whales except as permitted by the Contracting Government in accordance with sub-paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this paragraph. 
  (b) Each Contracting Government shall declare for all land stations under its jurisdiction, and whale catchers attached to such land stations, one open season during which the taking or killing of baleen whales, except minke whales, by the whale catchers shall be permitted. Such open season shall be for a period of not more than six consecutive months in any period of twelve months and shall apply to all land stations under the jurisdiction of the Contracting Government: provided that a separate open season may be declared for any land station used for the taking or treating of baleen whales, except minke whales, which is more than 1,000 miles from the nearest land station used for the taking or treating of baleen whales, except minke whales, under the jurisdiction of the same Contracting Government
  (c) Each Contracting Government shall declare for all land stations under its jurisdiction and for whale catchers attached to such land stations, one open season not to exceed eight continuous months in any one period of twelve months, during which the taking or killing of sperm whales by the whale catchers shall be permitted, provided that a separate open season may be declared for any land station used for the taking or treating of sperm whales which is more than 1,000 miles from the nearest land station used for the taking or treating of sperm whales under the jurisdiction of the same Contracting Government. 
  (d) Each Contracting Government shall declare for all land stations under its jurisdiction and for whale catchers attached to such land stations one open season not to exceed six continuous months in any period of twelve months during which the taking or killing of minke whales by the whale catchers shall be permitted (such period not being necessarily concurrent with the period declared for other baleen whales, as provided for in sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph); provided that a separate open season may be declared for any land station used for the taking or treating of minke whales which is more than 1,000 miles from the nearest land station used for the taking or treating of minke whales under the jurisdiction of the same Contracting Government. 

Except that a separate open season may be declared for any land station used for the taking or treating of minke whales which is located in an area having oceanographic conditions clearly distinguishable from those of the area in which are located the other land stations used for the taking or treating of minke whales under the jurisdiction of the same Contracting Government; but the declaration of a separate open season by virtue of the provisions of this sub-paragraph shall not cause thereby the period of time covering the open seasons declared by the same Contracting Government to exceed nine continuous months of any twelve months.

  (e) The prohibitions contained in this paragraph shall apply to all land stations as defined in Article II of the Whaling Convention of 1946. 

 

Other Operations
 
5 Each Contracting Government shall declare for all whale catchers under its jurisdiction not operating in conjunction with a factory ship or land station one continuous open season not to exceed six months out of any period of twelve months during which the taking or killing of minke whales by such whale catchers may be permitted. Notwithstanding this paragraph one continuous open season not to exceed nine months may be implemented so far as Greenland is concerned. 

 

III. CAPTURE


6 The killing for commercial purposes of whales, except minke whales using the cold grenade harpoon shall be forbidden from the beginning of the 1980/81 pelagic and 1981 coastal seasons. The killing for commercial purposes of minke whales using the cold grenade harpoon shall be forbidden from the beginning of the 1982/83 pelagic and the 1983 coastal seasons. CLICK HERE TO READ RELEVANT FOOTNOTES
7 (a) In accordance with Article V(1)(c) of the Convention, commercial whaling, whether by pelagic operations or from land stations, is prohibited in a region designated as the Indian Ocean Sanctuary. This comprises the waters of the Northern Hemisphere from the coast of Africa to 100°E, including the Red and Arabian Seas and the Gulf of Oman; and the waters of the Southern Hemisphere in the sector from 20°E to 130°E, with the Southern boundary set at 55°S. This prohibition applies irrespective of such catch limits for baleen or toothed whales as may from time to time be determined by the Commission. This prohibition shall be reviewed by the Commission at its Annual Meeting in 2002. 
  (b) In accordance with Article V(1)(c) of the Convention, commercial whaling, whether by pelagic operations or from land stations, is prohibited in a region designated as the Southern Ocean Sanctuary. This Sanctuary comprises the waters of the Southern Hemisphere southwards of the following line: starting from 40 degrees S, 50 degrees W; thence due east to 20 degrees E; thence due south to 55 degrees S; thence due east to 130 degrees E; thence due north to 40 degrees S; thence due east to 130 degrees W; thence due south to 60 degrees S; thence due east to 50 degrees W; thence due north to the point of beginning. This prohibition applies irrespective of the conservation status of baleen and toothed whale stocks in this Sanctuary, as may from time to time be determined by the Commission. However, this prohibition shall be reviewed ten years after its initial adoption and at succeeding ten year intervals, and could be revised at such times by the Commission. Nothing in this sub-paragraph is intended to prejudice the special legal and political status of Antarctica. CLICK HERE TO READ RELEVANT FOOTNOTES

 

Area Limits for Factory Ships
 
8 It is forbidden to use a factory ship or whale catcher attached thereto, for the purpose of taking or treating baleen whales, except minke whales, in any of the following areas: 
  (a) in the waters north of 66°N, except that from 150°E eastwards as far as 140°W, the taking or killing of baleen whales by a factory ship or whale catcher shall be permitted between 66°N and 72°N; 
  (b) in the Atlantic Ocean and its dependent waters north of 40°S; 
  (c) in the Pacific Ocean and its dependent waters east of 150°W between 40°S and 35°N;
  (d) in the Pacific Ocean and its dependent waters west of 150°W between 40°S and 20°N; 
  (e) in the Indian Ocean and its dependent waters north of 40°S. 

Classification of Areas and Divisions
 
9 (a) Classification of Areas
    Areas relating to Southern Hemisphere baleen whales except Bryde's whales are those waters between the ice-edge and the Equator and between the meridians of longitude listed in Table 1
  (b) Classification of Divisions
    Divisions relating to Southern Hemisphere sperm whales are those waters between the ice-edge and the Equator and between the meridians of longitude listed in Table 3.
  (c) Geographical boundaries in the North Atlantic
    The geographical boundaries for the fin, minke and sei whale stocks in the North Atlantic are: 

 

FIN WHALE STOCKS
Nova Scotia North Norway
South and West of a line through: 

47°N 54°W, 46°N 54°30'W,

46°N 42°W, 20°N 42°W.

North and East of a line through: 

74°N 22°W, 74°N 3°E, 68°N 3°E,

67°N 0°, 67°N 14°E.

   
Newfoundland-Labrador West Norway-Faroe Islands
West of a line through:

75°N 73°30'W, 69°N 59°W, 61°N 59°W

52°20'N 42°W, 46°N 42°W and

North of a line through:

46°N 42°W, 46°N 54°30'W, 47°N 54°W.

South of a line through: 

67°N 14°E, 67°N 0°, 60°N 18°W, and

North of a line through:

61°N 16°W, 61°N 0°, Thyborøn (Western entrance to Limfjorden, Denmark).

   
 West Greenland Spain-Portugal-British Isles
East of a line through:

75°N 73°30'W, 69°N 59°W,

61°N 59°W, 52°20'N 42°W,

and West of a line through

52°20'N 42°W, 59°N 42°W, 

59°N 44°W, Kap Farvel.

South of a line through:

Thyborøn (Denmark), 61°N 0°, 61°N 16°W,

and East of a line through:

63°N 11°W, 60°N 18°W, 22°N 18°W.

   
East Greenland-Iceland  
East of a line through:

Kap Farvel (South Greenland),

59°N 44°W, 59°N 42°W, 20°N 42°W

and West of a line through:

20°N 18°W, 60°N 18°W, 68°N 3°E,

74°N 3°E, and South of 74°N.

 

 
MINKE WHALE STOCKS
Canadian East Coast Central
West of a line through:

75°N 73°30'W, 69°N 59°W, 61°N 59°W,

52°20'N 42°W, 20°N 42°W.

East of a line through:

Kap Farvel (South Greenland),

59°N 44°W, 59°N 42°W, 20°N 42°W,

and West of a line through:

20°N 18°W, 60°N 18°W, 68°N 3°E,

74°N 3°E, and South of 74°N.

   
West Greenland Northeastern
East of a line through:

75°N 73°30'W, 69°N 59°W, 61°N 59°W

52°20'N 42°W, and

West of a line through:

52°20'N 42°W, 59°N 42°W,

59°N 44°W, Kap Farvel.

East of a line through: 

20°N 18°W, 60°N 18°W, 68°N 3°E, 74°N 3°E, 

and North of a line through:

74°N 3°E, 74°N 22°W.


 
SEI WHALE STOCKS
Nova Scotia Eastern
South and West of a line through:

47°N 54°W, 46°N 54°30'W, 46°N 42°W,

20°N 42°W.

East of a line through:

20°N 18°W, 60°N 18°W, 68°N 3°E, 74°N 3°E,

and North of a line through:

74°N 3°E, 74°N 22°W.

   
Iceland-Denmark Strait  
East of a line through:

Kap Farvel (South Greenland),

59°N 44°W, 59°N 42°W, 20°N 42°W,

and West of a line through:

20°N 18°W, 60°N 18°W, 68°N 3°E,

74°N 3°E, and South of 74°N.

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

 
SPERM WHALE STOCKS
Western Division
West of a line from the ice-edge south along the 180° meridian of longitude to 180°, 50°N, then east along the 50°N parallel of latitude to 160°W, 50°N, then south along the 160°W meridian of longitude to 160°W, 40°N, then east along the 40°N parallel of latitude to 150°W, 40°N, then south along the 150°W meridian of longitude to the Equator. 
Eastern Division
East of the line described above. 

 
BRYDE'S WHALE STOCKS
East China Sea Western
West of the Ryukyu Island chain West of 160°W (excluding the East China Sea stock area)
Eastern  
East of 160°W (excluding the Peruvian stock area)  

 
MINKE WHALE STOCKS
Sea of Japan-Yellow Sea- East China Sea Okhotsk Sea-West Pacific
West of a line through the Philippine Islands, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Kyushu, Honshu, Hokkaido and Sakhalin Island, north of the Equator 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
(e) Geographical boundaries for Bryde's whale stocks in the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Indian Ocean Western South Pacific
20°E to 130°E

South of the Equator

130°E to 150°W

South of the Equator(excluding the Solomon Islands stock area)

   
Solomon Islands South Atlantic
150°E to 170°E

20°S to the Equator

70°W to 20°E

South of the Equator (excluding the South African inshore stock area)

   
Peruvian South African Inshore
110°W to the South American coast

10°S to 10°N

South African coast west of 27°E and out to the 200 metre isobath
   
Eastern South Pacific  
150°W to 70°W

South of the Equator (excluding the Peruvian stock area)

 

 

Classification of Stocks
 
10 All stocks of whales shall be classified in one of three categories according to the advice of the Scientific Committee as follows: 
  (a) A Sustained Management Stock (SMS) is a stock which is not more than 10 per cent of Maximum Sustainable Yield (hereinafter referred to as MSY) stock level below MSY stock level, and not more than 20 per cent above that level; MSY being determined on the basis of the number of whales. 

When a stock has remained at a stable level for a considerable period under a regime of approximately constant catches, it shall be classified as a Sustained Management Stock in the absence of any positive evidence that it should be otherwise classified.

Commercial whaling shall be permitted on Sustained Management Stocks according to the advice of the Scientific Committee. These stocks are listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3 of this Schedule.

For stocks at or above the MSY stock level, the permitted catch shall not exceed 90 per cent of the MSY. For stocks between the MSY stock level and 10 per cent below that level, the permitted catch shall not exceed the number of whales obtained by taking 90 per cent of the MSY and reducing that number by 10 per cent for every 1 per cent by which the stock falls short of the MSY stock level.

  (b) An Initial Management Stock (IMS) is a stock more than 20 per cent of MSY stock level above MSY stock level. Commercial whaling shall be permitted on Initial Management Stocks according to the advice of the Scientific Committee as to measures necessary to bring the stocks to the MSY stock level and then optimum level in an efficient manner and without risk of reducing them below this level. The permitted catch for such stocks will not be more than 90 per cent of MSY as far as this is known, or, where it will be more appropriate, catching effort shall be limited to that which will take 90 per cent of MSY in a stock at MSY stock level. 
    In the absence of any positive evidence that a continuing higher percentage will not reduce the stock below the MSY stock level no more than 5 per cent of the estimated initial exploitable stock shall be taken in any one year. Exploitation should not commence until an estimate of stock size has been obtained which is satisfactory in the view of the Scientific Committee. Stocks classified as Initial Management Stock are listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3 of this Schedule. 
  (c) A Protection Stock (PS) is a stock which is below 10 per cent of MSY stock level below MSY stock level. 

There shall be no commercial whaling on Protection Stocks. Stocks so classified are listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3 of this Schedule.

  (d) Notwithstanding the other provisions of paragraph 10 there shall be a moratorium on the taking, killing or treating of whales, except minke whales, by factory ships or whale catchers attached to factory ships. This moratorium applies to sperm whales, killer whales and baleen whales, except minke whales. 
  (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. This provision 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 this decision on whale stocks and consider modification of this provision and the establishment of other catch limits. CLICK HERE TO READ RELEVANT FOOTNOTES

 

Baleen Whale Catch Limits
 
11 The number of baleen whales taken in the Southern Hemisphere in the 1998/99 pelagic season and the 1999coastal season shall not exceed the limits shown in Tables 1 and 2
12 The number of baleen whales taken in the North Pacific Ocean and dependent waters in 1999and in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1999 shall not exceed the limits shown in Tables 1 and 2.
13 (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 MSY level, aboriginal subsistence catches shall be permitted so long as total removals do not exceed 90 per cent 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. [CLICK HERE TO READ RELEVANT FOOTNOTES]
    (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.
  (b) Catch limits for aboriginal subsistence whaling are as follows: 
    (1) The taking of bowhead whales from the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas 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 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, the number of bowhead whales landed shall not exceed 280. For each of these years the number of bowhead whales struck shall not exceed 67, except that any unused portion of a strike quota from any year (including 15 unused strikes from the 1995-97 quota) shall be carried forward and added to the strike quotas of any subsequent years, provided that no more than 15 strikes shall be added to the strike quota for any one year. 
      (ii) It is forbidden to strike, take or kill calves or any bowhead whale accompanied by a calf.
      (iii) The provision shall be reviewed annually by the Commission in light of the advice of the Scientific Committee, particularly its advice arising from the 1998 Comprehensive Assessment.
    (2) 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 whose traditional aboriginal subsistence and cultural needs have been recognised. 
      (i) For the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, the number of gray whales taken in accordance with this sub-paragraph shall not exceed 620, provided that the number of gray whales taken in any one of the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 or 2002 shall not exceed 140.
      (ii) It is forbidden to strike, take or kill calves or any gray whale accompanied by a calf.
      (iii) This provision shall be reviewed annually by the Commission in light of the advice of the Scientific Committee
    (3) The taking by aborigines of minke whales from the West Greenland and Central stocks 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. 
      (i) The number of fin whales from the West Greenland stock taken in accordance with this sub-paragraph shall not exceed the limits shown in Table 1.
      (ii) The number of minke whales from the Central stock taken in accordance with this sub-paragraph shall not exceed 12 in each of the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, except that any unused portion of the quota for each year shall be carried forward from that year and added to the quota of any subsequent years, provided that no more than 3 shall be added to the quota for any one year.
      (iii) The number of minke whales struck from the West Greenland stock shall not exceed 175 in each of the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, except that any unused portion of the strike quota for each year shall be carried forward from that year and added to the strike quota of any subsequent years, provided that no more than 15 strikes shall be added to the strike quota for any one year. This provision will be reviewed if new scientific data become available within the 5 year period and if necessary amended on the basis of the advice of the Scientific Committee.
    (4) For the seasons 1996/97 to 1998/99 the taking of 2 [CLICK HERE TO READ RELEVANT FOOTNOTES] humpback whales each season is permitted by Bequians of St Vincent and The Grenadines, but only when the meat and products of such whales are to be used exclusively for local consumption in St Vincent and The Grenadines. 
14. It is forbidden to take or kill suckling calves or female whales accompanied by calves. 

 

Baleen Whale Size Limits
 
15 (a) It is forbidden to take or kill any sei or Bryde's whales below 40 feet (12.2 metres) in length except that sei and Bryde's whales of not less than 35 feet (10.7 metres) may be taken for delivery to land stations, provided that the meat of such whales is to be used for local consumption as human or animal food. 
  (b) It is forbidden to take or kill any fin whales below 57 feet (17.4 metres) in length in the Southern Hemisphere, and it is forbidden to take or kill fin whales below 55 feet (16.8 metres) in the Northern Hemisphere; except that fin whales of not less than 55 feet (16.8 metres) may be taken in the Southern Hemisphere for delivery to land stations and fin whales of not less than 50 feet (15.2 metres) may be taken in the Northern Hemisphere for delivery to land stations, provided that, in each case the meat of such whales is to be used for local consumption as human or animal food. 

 

Sperm Whale Catch Limits
 
16 Catch limits for sperm whales of both sexes shall be set at zero in the Southern Hemisphere for the 1981/82 pelagic season and 1982 coastal seasons and following seasons, and at zero in the Northern Hemisphere for the 1982 and following coastal seasons; except that the catch limits for the 1982 coastal season and following seasons in the Western Division of the North Pacific shall remain undetermined and subject to decision by the Commission following special or annual meetings of the Scientific Committee. These limits shall remain in force until such time as the Commission, on the basis of the scientific information which will be reviewed annually, decides otherwise in accordance with the procedures followed at that time by the Commission. 
17 It is forbidden to take or kill suckling calves or female whales accompanied by calves. 

 
 
 

Sperm Whale Size Limits
 
18 (a) It is forbidden to take or kill any sperm whales below 30 feet (9.2 metres) in length except in the North Atlantic Ocean where it is forbidden to take or kill any sperm whales below 35 feet (10.7 metres). 
  (b) It is forbidden to take or kill any sperm whale over 45 feet (13.7 metres) in length in the Southern Hemisphere north of 40° South Latitude during the months of October to January inclusive. 
  (c) It is forbidden to take or kill any sperm whale over 45 feet (13.7 metres) in length in the North Pacific Ocean and dependent water south of 40° North Latitude during the months of March to June inclusive. 

 

IV. TREATMENT


19 (b) All other whales taken, except minke whales, shall be delivered to the factory ship or land station and all parts of such whales shall be processed by boiling or otherwise, except the internal organs, whale bone and flippers of all whales, the meat of sperm whales and parts of whales intended for human food or feeding animals. A Contracting Government may in less developed regions exceptionally permit treating of whales without use of land stations, provided that such whales are fully utilised in accordance with this paragraph. 
  (c) Complete treatment of the carcases of "dauhval" and of whales used as fenders will not be required in cases where the meat or bone of such whales is in bad condition. 
20 (a) The taking of whales for treatment by a factory ship shall be so regulated or restricted by the master or person in charge of the factory ship that no whale carcase (except of a whale used as a fender, which shall be processed as soon as is reasonably practicable) shall remain in the sea for a longer period than thirty-three hours from the time of killing to the time when it is hauled up for treatment. 
  (b) Whales taken by all whale catchers, whether for factory ships or land stations, shall be clearly marked so as to identify the catcher and to indicate the order of catching.

 

V. SUPERVISION AND CONTROL


21 (a) There shall be maintained on each factory ship at least two inspectors of whaling for the purpose of maintaining twenty-four hour inspection provided that at least one such inspector shall be maintained on each catcher functioning as a factory ship. These inspectors shall be appointed and paid by the Government having jurisdiction over the factory ship; provided that inspectors need not be appointed to ships which, apart from the storage of products, are used during the season solely for freezing or salting the meat and entrails of whales intended for human food or feeding animals. 
  (b) Adequate inspection shall be maintained at each land station. The inspectors serving at each land station shall be appointed and paid by the Government having jurisdiction over the land station. 
  (c) There shall be received such observers as the member countries may arrange to place on factory ships and land stations or groups of land stations of other member countries. The observers shall be appointed by the Commission acting through its Secretary and paid by the Government nominating them. 
22. Gunners and crews of factory ships, land stations, and whale catchers, shall be engaged on such terms that their remuneration shall depend to a considerable extent upon such factors as the species, size and yield of whales and not merely upon the number of the whales taken. No bonus or other remuneration shall be paid to the gunners or crews of whale catchers in respect of the taking of lactating whales. 
23 Whales must be measured when at rest on deck or platform after the hauling out wire and grasping device have been released, by means of a tape-measure made of a non-stretching material. The zero end of the tape-measure shall be attached to a spike or stable device to be positioned on the deck or platform abreast of one end of the whale. Alternatively the spike may be stuck into the tail fluke abreast of the apex of the notch. The tape-measure shall be held taut in a straight line parallel to the deck and the whale's body, and other than in exceptional circumstances along the whale's back, and read abreast of the other end of the whale. The ends of the whale for measurement purposes shall be the tip of the upper jaw, or in sperm whales the most forward part of the head, and the apex of the notch between the tail flukes. 

Measurements shall be logged to the nearest foot or 0.1 metre. That is to say, any whale between 75 feet 6 inches and 76 feet 6 inches shall be logged as 76 feet, and any whale between 76 feet 6 inches and 77 feet 6 inches shall be logged as 77 feet. Similarly, any whale between 10.15 metres and 10.25 metres shall be logged as 10.2 metres, and any whale between 10.25 metres and 10.35 metres shall be logged as 10.3 metres. The measurement of any whale which falls on an exact half foot or 0.05 metre shall be logged at the next half foot or 0.05 metre, e.g. 76 feet 6 inches precisely shall be logged as 77 feet and 10.25 metres precisely shall be logged as 10.3 metres.


 

VI. INFORMATION REQUIRED


24 (a) All whale catchers operating in conjunction with a factory ship shall report by radio to the factory ship: 
    (1) the time when each whale is taken
    (2) its species, and 
    (3) its marking effected pursuant to paragraph 20(b)
  (b) The information specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph shall be entered immediately by a factory ship in a permanent record which shall be available at all times for examination by the whaling inspectors; and in addition there shall be entered in such permanent record the following information as soon as it becomes available: 
    (1) time of hauling up for treatment
    (2) length, measured pursuant to paragraph 23
    (3) sex
    (4) if female, whether lactating
    (5) length and sex of foetus, if present, and 
    (6) a full explanation of each infraction. 
  (c) A record similar to that described in sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph shall be maintained by land stations, and all of the information mentioned in the said sub-paragraph shall be entered therein as soon as available.
  (d) A record similar to that described in sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph shall be maintained by "small-type whaling" operations conducted from shore or by pelagic fleets, and all of this information mentioned in the said sub-paragraph shall be entered therein as soon as available. 
25 (a) All Contracting Governments shall report to the Commission for all whale catchers operating in conjunction with factory ships and land stations the following information: 
    (1) methods used to kill each whale, other than a harpoon, and in particular compressed air 
    (2) number of whales struck but lost. 
  (b) A record similar to that described in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph shall be maintained by vessels engaged in "small-type whaling" operations and by native peoples taking species listed in paragraph 1, and all the information mentioned in the said sub-paragraph shall be entered therein as soon as available, and forwarded by Contracting Governments to the Commission. 
26 (a) Notification shall be given in accordance with the provisions of Article VII of the Convention, within two days after the end of each calendar week, of data on the number of baleen whales by species taken in any waters south of 40° South Latitude by all factory ships or whale catchers attached thereto under the jurisdiction of each Contracting Government, provided that when the number of each of these species taken is deemed by the Secretary to the International Whaling Commission to have reached 85 per cent of whatever total catch limit is imposed by the Commission notification shall be given as aforesaid at the end of each day of data on the number of each of these species taken. 
  (b) If it appears that the maximum catches of whales permitted by paragraph 11 may be reached before 7 April of any year, the Secretary to the International Whaling Commission shall determine, on the basis of the data provided, the date on which the maximum catch of each of these species shall be deemed to have been reached and shall notify the master of each factory ship and each Contracting Government of that date not less than four days in advance thereof. The taking or attempting to take baleen whales, so notified, by factory ships or whale catchers attached thereto shall be illegal in any waters south of 40° South Latitude after midnight of the date so determined. 
  (c) Notification shall be given in accordance with the provisions of Article VII of the Convention of each factory ship intending to engage in whaling operations in any waters south of 40° South Latitude. 
27 Notification shall be given in accordance with the provisions of Article VII of the Convention with regard to all factory ships and catcher ships of the following statistical information: 
  (a) concerning the number of whales of each species taken, the number thereof lost, and the number treated at each factory ship or land station, and 
  (b) as to the aggregate amounts of oil of each grade and quantities of meal, fertiliser (guano), and other products derived from them, together with 
  (c) particulars with respect to each whale treated in the factory ship, land station or "small-type whaling" operations as to the date and approximate latitude and longitude of taking, the species and sex of the whale, its length and, if it contains a foetus, the length and sex, if ascertainable, of the foetus. 

The data referred to in (a) and (c) above shall be verified at the time of the tally and there shall also be notification to the Commission of any information which may be collected or obtained concerning the calving grounds and migration of whales.

28 (a) Notification shall be given in accordance with the provisions of Article VII of the Convention with regard to all factory ships and catcher ships of the following statistical information: 
    (1) The name and gross tonnage of each factory ship. 
    (2) For each catcher ship attached to a factory ship or land station: 
      (i) the dates on which each is commissioned and ceases whaling for the season
      (ii) the number of days on which each is at sea on the whaling grounds each season 
      (iii) the gross tonnage, horsepower, length and other characteristics of each; vessels used only as tow boats should be specified. 
    (3) A list of the land stations which were in operation during the period concerned, and the number of miles searched per day by aircraft, if any. 
  (b) The information required under paragraph (a)(2)(iii) should also be recorded together with the following information, in the log book format shown in Appendix A, and forwarded to the Commission:
    (1) where possible the time spent each day on different components of the catching operation
    (2) any modifications of the measures in paragraphs (a)(2)(i)-(iii) or (b)(1) or data from other suitable indicators of fishing effort for "small-type whaling" operations. 
29 (a) Where possible all factory ships and land stations shall collect from each whale taken and report on: 
    (1) both ovaries or the combined weight of both testes
    (2) at least one ear plug, or one tooth (preferably first mandibular). 
  (b) Where possible similar collections to those described in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph shall be undertaken and reported by "small-type whaling" operations conducted from shore or by pelagic fleets. 
  (c) All specimens collected under sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) shall be properly labelled with platform or other identification number of the whale and be appropriately preserved. 
  (d) Contracting Governments shall arrange for the analysis as soon as possible of the tissue samples and specimens collected under sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) and report to the Commission on the results of such analyses. 
30 A Contracting Government shall provide the Secretary to the International Whaling Commission with proposed scientific permits before they are issued and in sufficient time to allow the Scientific Committee to review and comment on them. The proposed permits should specify: 
  (a) objectives of the research; 
  (b) number, sex, size and stock of the animals to be taken; 
  (c) opportunities for participation in the research by scientists of other nations; and 
  (d) possible effect on conservation of stock. 

Proposed permits shall be reviewed and commented on by the Scientific Committee at Annual Meetings when possible. When permits would be granted prior to the next Annual Meeting, the Secretary shall send the proposed permits to members of the Scientific Committee by mail for their comment and review. Preliminary results of any research resulting from the permits should be made available at the next Annual Meeting of the Scientific Committee.

31 A Contracting Government shall transmit to the Commission copies of all its official laws and regulations relating to whales and whaling and changes in such laws and regulations. 

 



 
 
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE REGULATION OF

WHALING, 1946, SCHEDULE APPENDIX A
 
 

TITLE PAGE

(one logbook per catcher per season)


Catcher name    Year built  
Attached to expedition/land station   
Season   
Overall length    Wooden/steel hull  
Gross tonnage   
Type of engine    H.P  
Maximum speed    Average searching speed  
Asdic set, make and model no  
Date of installation   
Make and size of cannon   
Type of first harpoon used    explosive/electric/non-explosive  
Type of killer harpoon used   
Length and type of forerunner   
Type of whaleline   
Height of barrel above sea level       
Speedboat used,  Yes No  
Name of Captain   
Number of years experience   
Name of gunner   
Number of years experience   
Number of crew   
 
DAILY RECORD SHEET TABLE 1


 Date    Catcher name    Sheet No  
Searching: Time started (or resumed) searching           
  *Time whales seen or reported to catcher           
  Whale species           
  Number seen and no. of groups           
  Position found           
  Name of catcher that found whales           
Chasing: Time started chasing (or confirmed whales)           
  Time whale shot or chasing discontinued           
  Asdic used (Yes/No)           
Handling: Time whale flagged or alongside for towing           
  Serial No. of catch           
Towing : Time started picking up           
  Time finished picking up or started towing           
  Date and time delivered to factory           
Resting: Time stopped (for drifting or resting)           
  Time finished drifting/resting           
  Time ceased operations           

*Time whales reported to catcher means the time when the catcher is told of the position of a school and starts to move towards it to chase it.
 
Total searching time  
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Total chasing time 
Time
Sea state
Wind

force and

direction

Visibility
A) with asdic   
B) without asdic   
Total handling time           
Total towing time           
Total resting time           
Other time

(e.g. bunkering, in port) 

 
   

 

Whales Seen (No. and No. of schools)


Blue   Bryde's   
Fin   Minke   
Humpback   Sperm   
Right   Others (specify)   
Sei    
Signed  

 
 
 

SCHOOLING REPORT TABLE 2

To be completed by pelagic expedition or coastal station for each sperm whale school chased. A separate form to be used each day. 



 
Name of expedition or coastal station   
Date    Noon position of factory ship  
Time School Found   
Total Number of Whales in School   
Number of Takeable Whales in School   
Number of Whales Caught from School by each Catcher   
Name of Catcher   
Name of Catcher   
Name of Catcher   
Name of Catcher   
Total Number Caught from School   
Remarks
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Explanatory Notes

A. Fill in one column for each school chased with number of whales caught by each catcher taking part in the chase; if catchers chase the school but do not catch from it, enter 0; for catchers in fleet which do not chase that school enter X.

B. A school on this form means a group of whales which are sufficiently close together that a catcher having completed handling one whale can start chasing another whale almost immediately without spending time searching. A solitary whale should be entered as a school of 1 whale. 

C. A takeable whale is a whale of a size or kind which the catchers would take if possible. It does not necessarily include all whales above legal size, e.g. if catchers are concentrating on large whales only these would be counted as takeable. 

D. Information about catchers from other expeditions or companies operating on the same school should be recorded under Remarks. 


 


FOOTNOTE RELEVANT TO PARA. 6 

* The Governments of Brazil, Iceland, Japan, Norway and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics lodged objections to the second sentence of paragraph 6 within the prescribed period. For all other Contracting Governments this sentence came into force on 8 March 1982. 

Norway withdrew its objection on 9 July 1985 and Brazil on 8 January 1992. 

Iceland withdrew from the Convention with effect from 30 June 1992. 

The objections of Japan and the Russian Federation not having been withdrawn, this sentence is not binding upon these governments


FOOTNOTES RELEVANT TO PARA. 7(b)

** The Government of Japan lodged an objection within the prescribed period to paragraph 7(b) to the extent that it applies to the Antarctic minke whale stocks. 

The Government of the Russian Federation also lodged an objection to paragraph 7(b) within the prescribed period but withdrew it on 26 October 1994. 

For all Contracting Governments except Japan paragraph 7(b) came into force on 6 December 1994. 

+ Paragraph 7(b) contains a provision for review of the Southern Ocean Sanctuary "ten years after its initial adoption". Paragraph 7(b) was adopted at the 46th (1994) Annual Meeting. Therefore, the first review is due in 2004. 


FOOTNOTES RELEVANT TO PARA. 10(e)

* The Governments of Japan, Norway, Peru and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics lodged objection to paragraph 10(e) within the prescribed period. For all other Contracting Governments this paragraph came into force on 3 February 1983. Peru withdrew its objection on 22 July 1983. 

The Government of Japan withdrew its objections with effect from 1 May 1987 with respect to commercial pelagic whaling; from 1 October 1987 with respect to commercial coastal whaling for minke and Bryde's whales; and from 1 April 1988 with respect to commercial coastal sperm whaling. 

The objections of Norway and the Russian Federation not having been withdrawn, the paragraph is not binding upon these Governments. 


FOOTNOTE RELEVANT TO PARA. 13 (a) (2)

1 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. 


FOOTNOTE RELEVANT TO PARA. 13(b)(4)

1 Each year this figure will be reviewed and if necessary amended on the basis of the advice of the Scientific Committee.
 
 



 
 

TABLE 1: BALEEN WHALE STOCK CLASSIFICATIONS AND CATCH LIMITS+ (excluding Bryde's whales)


SEI
MINKE
FIN
BLUE
RIGHT, BOWHEAD, HUMPBACK
PYGMY RIGHT
GRAY
 
Classi- fication
Catch limit
Classi- fication
Catch limit
Classi- fication
Catch limit
Classi- fication
Catch limit
Classi- fication
Catch limit
Classi- fication
Catch limit
Classi- fication
Catch limit
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE-1998/99 pelagic season and 1999 coastal season
Area                             .
I
120°W-60°W
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
.
.
II
60°W- 0°
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
.
.
III
0°- 70°E
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
.
.
IV
70°E-130°E
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
.
.
V
130°E- 170°W
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
.
.
VI
170°W-120°W
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
.
.
Total catch not to exceed:        
0
 
0
 
0
 
0
   
                               
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE-1999 season
ARCTIC
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
PS
0
.
.
 
NORTH PACIFIC                            
Whole region
PS
0
.
.
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
.
.
Okhotsk Sea-West Pacific Stock
.
.
-
0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Sea of Japan-Yellow Sea- East China Sea Stock
.
.
PS
0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Remainder
.
.
IMS
0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Eastern Stock
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
SMS
.1
Western Stock
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
PS
0
 
NORTH ATLANTIC
                         
Whole region
.
.
.
.
.
.
PS
0
PS
0
PS
0
.
.
West Greenland Stock
.
.
PS
0
-
192
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Newfoundland-Labrador Stock
.
.
.
.
-
0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Canadian East Coast Stock
.
.
-
0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Nova Scotia Stock
PS
0
.
.
PS
0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Central Stock
.
.
-
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
East Greenland-Iceland Stock
.
.
.
.
SMS
0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Iceland-Denmark Strait Stock
-
0
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Spain-Portugal-British Isles                             
Stock . . . . - 0 . . . . . . . .
Northeastern Stock . . PS* 0 . . . . . . . . . .
West Norway-Faroe Islands Stock . . . . PS 0 . . . . . . . .
North Norway Stock . . . . - 0 . . . . . . . .
Eastern Stock - 0 . . . . . . . . . . . .
 
NORTHERN INDIAN OCEAN . . IMS 0 . . PS 0 PS 0 PS 0 . .

1 Available to be taken by aborigines or a Contracting Government on behalf of aborigines pursuant to paragraph 13(b)2.

2 Available to be taken by aborigines pursuant to paragraph 13(b)3. Catch limit for each of the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. 

+ The catch limits of zero introduced into Table 1 as editorial amendments as a result of the coming into effect of paragraph 10(e) are not binding upon the governments of the countries which lodged and have not withdrawn objections to the said paragraph. 

*The Government of Norway presented objection to the classification of the Northeastern Atlantic stock of minke whales as a Protection Stock within the prescribed period. This classification came into force on 30 January 1986 but is not binding on the Government of Norway. 
 
 



TABLE 2: BRYDE'S WHALE STOCK CLASSIFICATIONS AND CATCH LIMITS +
 
Classification
Catch limit
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE-1998/99 pelagic season and 1999 coastal season
South Atlantic Stock
-
0
Southern Indian Ocean Stock
IMS
0
South African Inshore Stock
-
0
Solomon Islands Stock
IMS
0
Western South Pacific Stock
IMS
0
Eastern South Pacific Stock
IMS
0
Peruvian Stock
-
0
     
NORTH PACIFIC-1999 season    
Eastern Stock
IMS
0
Western Stock
IMS
0
East China Sea Stock
PS
0
     
NORTH ATLANTIC-1999 season
IMS
0
     
NORTHERN INDIAN OCEAN-1999 season
-
0
     

+ The catch limits of zero introduced in Table 2 as editorial amendments as a result of the coming into effect of paragraph 10(e) are not binding upon the governments of the countries which lodged and have not withdrawn objections to the said paragraph.
 
 





TABLE 3: TOOTHED WHALE STOCK CLASSIFICATIONS AND CATCH LIMITS +
 
 
 
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE-1998/99 pelagic season and 1999 coastal season
 
SPERM
Division
Longitudes
Classification
Catch limit
1
60°W-30°W
-
0
2
30°W-20°E
-
0
3
20°E-60°E
-
0
4
60°E-90°E
-
0
5
90°-130°E
-
0
6
130°E-160°E
-
0
7
160°E-170°W
-
0
8
170°W-100°W
-
0
9
100°W-60°W
-
0
       
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE-1999 season
NORTH PACIFIC
Western Division
PS
01
Eastern Division
-
0
 
NORTH ATLANTIC
-
0
 
NORTHERN INDIAN OCEAN
-
0
 
 
BOTTLENOSE
NORTH ATLANTIC
PS
0

1 No whales may be taken from this stock until catch limits including any limitations on size and sex are established by the Commission.

+ The catch limits of zero introduced in Table 3 as editorial amendments as a result of the coming into effect of paragraph 10(e) are not binding upon the governments of the countries which lodged and have not withdrawn objections to the said paragraph. 
 


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