205 



We cannot confirm that all regtilations of the Commission pertaining to 

 prohibited spec-ies. size limits and the like are observed by the whalers of these 

 countries. However, we understand that the regulations are generally observed. 



The Department is also aware of reports that two "pirate" whaling vessels 

 have been operating off the west coast of Africa in the past year. These are 

 understood to be relatively small operations, involving in each case a combination 

 of catcher vessel and processing vessel. They are understood to be flying flags 

 of convenience. The members of the Whaling Commission which are most 

 directly concerned with these operations have undertaken to seek such measures 

 as mav be possible to control them, and upon development of further informa- 

 tion the Department will consider courses of action which it may take in this 



re.spect. ^ , • ^- i 



With respect to other species of marine mammals covered by international 

 agreements, the Department is not aware, nor has it any reason to believe, 

 that such animals are being killed by nations not parties to the existing 

 agreements. 



I hope that the foregoing information will be useful to you in your considera- 

 tion of the various bills on protection of marine mammals. If there is any 

 further information we can provide please let me know. 



Sincerely. 



David M. Abshike, 

 Assistant Secretary for 

 Congressional Relations. 



Mr. DixGELL. It is your view that the International A^Tialing Com- 

 mission has done an adequate job of i^rotectingthe whales ( 



Mr. McKerxax. No. 



Mr. DixGELL. Well, what are we going to do about it ? 



Mr. McKerxax. Well, we are doing something about it. and I 

 think, in the past 10 years, substantial progress has been made to brijig 

 the controls on whaling within the allowable, sustainable yield limits. 



Mr. DixGELL. Are you telling me last year's catch was witliin the 

 allowable sustainable yield limits ( 



Mr. McKerxax. On some si>ecies. the answer is "Yes." It is within 

 the limits of the knowledge of the stocks of whales of some of these 

 species, for example, the Xorrh Pacific sperm whales ; stUl. generally, 

 the performance is not completely adequate from my point of view, 

 and I am sure from yours. Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. DixGELL. It' is vers- definitely not adequate from my view, 

 and that is one of the reasons we are having these hearings. 



Mr. McKerxax. We had three major objectives. The United States 

 had three major objectives at this recent Whaling Commission 

 meeting. 



By the way. these objectives were drafted, not necessarily or not 

 even to any major degree, by the Department of State, but by all 

 interested departments of Government. 



These were, first to attempt to bring down the catch below the 

 sustainable yield level. 



Second, do away with the blue whale unit. 



You know. Mr. Chairman, for years in the Antarctic the whales 

 have been listed, the catch has been listed, and the quotas have been 

 taken on the basis of blue whale tmits rather than by sj^ecies. 



We felt for a long time this was a very bad practice, and we wanted 

 to eliminate that. 



Third, we wanted to have initiated an effective enforcement scheme, 

 international enforcement scheme. 



Xow. we did not completely succeed in the first objective. There 

 was a general reduction of about 20 [percent, as I recall in the quotas 

 for this vear from last vear. 



