Although the IWC failed to achieve the moratorium and the 

 strengthening of its Secretariat, the United States was able to win 

 support on other conservation measures. Catch quotas were reduced 

 for the North Pacific fin whale, which is generally agreed to be 

 overexploited; for the Antarctic fin whale, which is the most 

 seriously depleted of the whales currently exploited; and for the 

 Antarctic sei whale. For the sperm whale the overall quota was not 

 reduced, but area quotas were set in the southern hemisphere to halt 

 overexploitation in local areas. The reduction in quota for the 

 Antarctic fin whale was accompanied by a provision that all taking 

 of this whale would cease in 1976. 



The Japanese objected in September to the provisions setting area 

 quotas for the sperm whale and providing for the cessation of the 

 taking of the Antarctic fin whale in 1976, as well as to a provision on 

 the catch quota for the minke whale. The Japanese action was 

 followed by the Soviet Union joining in objecting to the provision 

 relating to the sperm whale and the quota on the minke whale. 

 According to IWC regulations, if a country objects to a provision, 

 that provision will not come into effect for that country unless the 

 objection is withdrawn. 



The United States strongly protested to Japan and the U.S.S.R. and 

 urged them to reconsider their decisions. The protests stressed the 

 large public and Congressional interest in the conservation of 

 whales, and the fact that the actions by Japan and the U.S.S.R. were 

 contrary to the recommendations of the IWC's Scientific Committee. 



56 



