MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION — Annual Report for 1992 
IWC authorized a three-year total of 141 strikes of 
bowhead whales for the years 1992, 1993, and 
1994 with no more than 54 whales struck and no 
more than 41 landed in any one year, and a maxi- 
mum of 13 unused strikes that may be carried over 
from the period 1989 to 1991. At the 1992 meet- 
ing, the United States provided information on a 
whaling community that had been overlooked in 
previous analyses of subsistence and cultural needs. 
It indicated that one whale per year was needed to 
meet the subsistence and cultural requirements of 
this community. It did not, however, propose to 
increase the authorized catch limit in 1992. Thus, 
the catch limits adopted in 1992 remain in effect. 
Eastern North Pacific Gray Whales (taken for 
Siberian Eskimos) — A commercial whaling vessel 
is used to take and deliver gray whales to Russian 
Eskimos. In 1991 the IWC established a catch 
limit of 169 whales a year for 1992, 1993, and 
1994. No information on the numbers or charac- 
teristics of whales taken, methods of killing, 
distribution of the meat, or biological data were 
received from the Russian Federation for the 1991 
season. The Russian Federation representative 
indicated that technical reasons associated with 
internal reorganization were responsible for the 
lack of information. 
North Atlantic West Greenland Stock of Fin Whales 
(taken by Greenland) — Denmark, on behalf of 
Greenland, proposed that the catch limit of 21 
animals set for 1992 be continued in 1993 and 
1994. This limit was adopted. 
North Atlantic Central Stock of Minke Whales 
(taken by Greenland) — In 1991 the IWC autho- 
rized 315 total strikes of minke whales for the 
years 1992, 1993, and 1994 with no more than 115 
whales struck in any one year. No new informa- 
tion was provided and the authorized catch limits 
were not changed in 1992. 
East Greenland Minke Whales (taken by Green- 
land) — The catch limits for this stock were 12 
whales each for the years 1990, 1991, and 1992. 
The IWC agreed to Denmark’s proposal to con- 
tinue these catch limits for 1993 and 1994. 
124 
¢ Northwest Atlantic Humpback Whales (taken by St. 
Vincent and the Grenadines) — In 1990 the IWC 
adopted a catch limit of three whales each year 
from this stock for the 1990-1991, 1991-1992, and 
1992-1993 seasons. 
Small-Type Coastal Whaling — Japan has repeat- 
edly argued that many of its small coastal communi- 
ties depend upon whales and whaling in ways that are 
little different from aboriginal subsistence whaling. 
Documentation presented to a working group that met 
before the IWC’s 1992 annual meeting indicated that 
small-type whaling in Japan is a limited access fish- 
ery, involving four coastal communities and 7-9 boats. 
The harvest level between 1951 and 1986, when the 
moratorium on commercial whaling entered into 
effect, was approximately 350 whales a year. Pend- 
ing final adoption and implementation of the Revised 
Management Procedure, Japan requested that the IWC 
authorize “a symbolic emergency relief quota of 50 
minke whales” for its coastal whaling villages. A 
number of members, including the United States, 
noted that the “small-type” coastal whaling operations 
cannot be distinguished in any valid way from com- 
mercial operations. The IWC refused to authorize the 
requested take of 50 minke whales. It agreed, how- 
ever, to consider the matter further in 1993. 
Special Permits for Scientific Research Whaling 
— The International Whaling Convention allows 
member nations to issue permits authorizing the take 
of whales for scientific purposes, provided that the 
proposed research programs are provided to the 
IWC’s Scientific Committee for review and comment 
before the permits are issued. The IWC, acting on 
advice provided by its Scientific Committee, has 
adopted guidelines for judging whether proposed takes 
for scientific purposes will contribute to making 
determinations necessary to further the IWC’s conser- 
vation program. 
At their 1992 meetings the IWC and its Scientific 
Committee considered permits proposed to be issued 
by Japan and Norway to allow taking of minke whales 
in the Antarctic and the North Atlantic Oceans, 
respectively, for purposes of scientific research. The 
Japanese program would involve the take of 300 
animals +10% in Antarctic Statistical Area V; the 
Norwegian program would authorize the take of 110 
