Chapter V — International 
minke whales in 1992 and 136 whales in both 1993 
and 1994 in the northeastern Atlantic. The objective 
of the Japanese research is to obtain better estimates 
of the discreteness and productivity of southern hemi- 
sphere minke whale stocks. The objective of the 
Norwegian research is to obtain better information on 
the feeding ecology of minke whales for use in a 
multi-species fisheries management model for the 
northeastern Atlantic. 
The Scientific Committee advised the IWC that 
neither program would contribute significantly to the 
comprehensive assessment of whale stocks. The IWC 
adopted resolutions asking both countries to reconsider 
their research whaling programs. These resolutions 
are non-binding, and both countries have issued 
permits authorizing the research (see below for further 
discussion of this issue). 
Small Cetaceans — As noted above, many species 
and populations of small cetaceans have been seriously 
depleted by directed taking and other human activities. 
The International Whaling Convention neither lists nor 
defines the species it was created to conserve. Conse- 
quently, there has been extensive debate over the 
IWC’s competence to regulate catches of small 
cetaceans, particularly as such regulation would relate 
to the rights of coastal states to regulate small ceta- 
cean catches within their respective Exclusive Eco- 
nomic Zones. 
The IWC has recognized that many species and 
populations of small cetaceans are in serious trouble. 
In 1980, it adopted a resolution that (1) noted that the 
question of the IWC’s competence over small ceta- 
ceans was not resolved; (2) recommended that the 
Scientific Committee continue to consider and to 
provide advice to contracting governments and others 
on measures necessary to effectively conserve species 
and populations of small cetaceans; and (3) invited all 
contracting governments to consider the advice 
provided by the Scientific Committee. 
At its 1992 meeting the Scientific Committee 
reviewed information and provided management 
advice on white whales (also called beluga whales) 
and narwhals throughout the Arctic, on dolphin stocks 
harvested by Japanese drive fisheries, and on harbor 
porpoise taken incidentally in finfish fisheries in the 
125 
northern Gulf of Maine and the lower Bay of Fundy. 
With respect to white whales, the Scientific Commit- 
tee noted that there is insufficient knowledge of stock 
identification and stock boundaries throughout the 
species’ range. It also noted that the abundance of 
white whales wintering in west Greenland had de- 
clined since the 1980s and that catches from this stock 
by Greenland and Canada have not been sustainable. 
It recommended that additional studies be done to 
better determine the size and discreteness of various 
populations and that the hunting level of the Baffin 
Bay stock be reduced. 
With respect to Japanese drive fisheries, the 
Scientific Committee recommended that an assessment 
of the striped dolphin population affected by the 
fishery be done as a matter of urgency, and pending 
completion of this assessment, that all directed catches 
of this species be stopped. With respect to harbor 
porpoises, the Scientific Committee noted that the 
bycatch in U.S. and Canadian gillnet fisheries should 
be reduced and that information on incidental capture 
was lacking for some countries. It recommended that 
all countries implement a recording scheme for 
incidental takes of harbor porpoise in their waters and 
provide the data to the IWC. 
Three topics for priority consideration at future 
meetings were also identified. They are (1) a review 
of the abundance and exploitation of small cetaceans 
in South American coastal and riverine waters, 
particularly species used for bait in Chilean crab 
fisheries; (2) a review of the status of small cetacean 
species taken incidentally in coastal fisheries in 
southeast Asia and the Indo-Malay region; and (3) a 
general review of the status of dolphins of the genus 
Lagenorhynchus taken incidentally in driftnet and 
other fisheries in the North Pacific. 
Humane Killing — As noted in the Marine Mam- 
mal Commission’s previous annual report, the IWC 
adopted a resolution at its 1991 meeting calling for a 
workshop to review progress made since 1980 when 
the last comprehensive review was done, on develop- 
ing humane methods for killing whales. In response 
to this resolution, a three-day Workshop on Whale 
Killing Methods was organized and held prior to the 
IWC’s 1992 annual meeting. The workshop conclud- 
ed that there had been little progress and that there 
