Based on the United States' report and deliberations 

 during the meeting, the Technical Committee of the IWC recom- 

 mended, and the IWC adopted, a three-year quota for the Bering- 

 Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales. The quota 

 allows an annual limit for each of the years 1989 through 

 1991 of no more than 44 strikes or 41 landings, whichever 

 comes first. It also provides that up to 3 strikes not used 

 in 1988, 1989, or 1990 may be reallocated to the following year. 



Aboriginal catch limits for other stocks of whales were 

 set as follows for the 1989 whaling seasons: 60 whales from 

 the West Greenland minke whale stock; 23 whales from the West 

 Greenland fin whale stock; and 12 whales from the central 

 Atlantic minke whale stock. In addition, a three-year annual 

 quota of 179 whales per year was adopted for the eastern North 

 Pacific gray whale stock. At its 1987 meeting, the IWC had 

 adopted a three-year quota of three humpback whales for each 

 of the years 1987 through 1989 for St. Vincent and the 

 Grenadines. No action was taken to alter that quota during 

 the 1988 meeting. 



Special Permits for Scientific Research — As noted 

 above, the IWC ' s conservation program provides that member 

 nations may issue special permits to their citizens to take 

 whales for purposes of scientific research. However, it also 

 provides that member nations afford the IWC and its Scientific 

 Committee an opportunity to review proposed permits. They 

 also must submit certain information on the proposed research 

 activities. 



In view of the provisions of Schedule paragraph 10 (e) 

 establishing a moratorium on commercial whaling and calling 

 for a comprehensive assessment of whale stocks, the IWC and its 

 Scientific Committee have devoted particular attention during 

 recent meetings to matters pertaining to the issuance of special 

 permits. In 1985, the Scientific Committee developed a series 

 of guidelines for reviewing proposed permits and, in 1986 and 

 1987, the IWC adopted a series of resolutions providing advice 

 to contracting governments on: criteria to be considered in 

 issuing special permits; the disposition of whale meat and 

 other products derived from whales taken; and actions to 

 authorize special permits for certain research proposals. 

 Although advice adopted through resolutions reflects the 

 views of a majority of voting IWC members, the rules of the 

 IWC provide that such advice is non-binding upon contracting 

 governments. 



As noted above, during its 1987 meeting, the IWC reviewed 

 the proposal for a permit for scientific research submitted 

 by Japan, and it adopted a resolution calling upon Japan to 

 refrain from issuing a special permit for the proposed 

 activities. During the 1987 meeting, it also reviewed a 



107 



