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considered as a major project of the International Decade of Ocean Exploration, 

 which has been declared for the 1970's. Arrangements should now be made for 

 scientists to draw up and governments to fund in the framework of the decade 

 a comprehensive program of cetacean research, with emphasis on the ecology, 

 behavior and dynamics of the exploitable species and stocks, and monitoring 

 changes in protected stocks. Such a program will require funding greatly exceed- 

 ing present levels and it is reasonable to urge that this be provided. Present ex- 

 penditures are quite inadequate for the declared aims of existing programs. They 

 also represent an unacceptably small proportion of the income from the exploita- 

 tion of cetacean stocks, even in their present depleted state. 



A disturbing feature of the present situation is the almost complete lack of 

 scientists working full-time on the population dynamics of whales. Assessments 

 of the major whale stocks have been made by scientists working on whales in 

 the time that could be spared from their other main duties. There is a great 

 need within a general expansion of whale research for full-time studies of the 

 population dynamics of whales, as well as, on the one hand, for whale biologists 

 to become familiar with the concepts of population dynamics, and on the other 

 hand, for population dynamics experts to study whales in more depth. 



Implementation of Regulations 



Though the implementation of regulations will have to take into account eco- 

 nomic, .social, and political factors, as well as the .scientific evidence, the meeting 

 believes that the following general considerations should be taken into account : 



1. The entire species and all its component stocks should be considered. The 

 subgroups of a species are very likely part of the evolutionary .strategy by which 

 the species took its place in the modem world and, thu.s, the gef)graphic pattern 

 of distribution and abundance must be considered as part of the health of the 

 species as a whole. This implies that it is not sufficient to set a single species 

 limit, but rather that limits should be set by stocks. 



2. Management of the whale stocks of the world must insure that each stock 

 of each species is maintained at or close to the optimum level. This would be 

 achieved by .setting a quota separately for each stock and is clearly not insured 

 by the current blue whale unit system. 



3. It should not be the strategy of the International Whaling Commis.sion 

 merely to maintain over-exploited .stocks, but rather to allow the whale popula- 

 tions sufficient suri>lus reproductive iK>ttntial to regain levels at which the popu- 

 lations can provide the maximum sustainable yields. 



4. The estimation of what con.stitutes a prudent management practice should 

 include the consideration of the po.ssible effects of population catastrophes, such 

 as failure of local food supplie.s. epidemic diseases, etc. 



5. It should be the role of the groups, both national and international, to fos- 

 ter and encourage study in the re.search areas discussed. A new agency .should be 

 created, or an existing one mandated, to coordinate research effort-s. including 

 the job of applying to member-governments for support of specific projects. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



1. The international observer scheme should be instituted at once. 



2. The blue whale unit should be rescinded and replaced by a quota scheme that 

 provides management of each individual species and stock. 



3. Quotas for those species which are estimated to be at or above their optimum 

 levels should be set at values which will not reduce the stocks below those levels ; 

 quotas for .species which are below their optimum levels should be brought to 

 values that will insure rebuilding of the stocks. The consequences of acting upon 

 possibly erroneous mid-range estimates of sustainable yields should be studietl 

 and appropriate action taken. 



4. A quota .should be set for minke whaling in the Antarctic 



5. There appears to be a danger to certain isolated whale stocks, which could 

 be destroyed in a very .short time. There could be a particular ri.sk from the ir- 

 responsible use of exi.sting surplus whaling equipment, especially in countries not 

 party to the International Whaling Commission. It is recommended that all non- 

 member nations of the IWC engaged in or entering whaling operations .should 

 immediately join the IWC and adhere to its regulations and that member coun- 

 tries of the IWC should take all possible .steps to bring this alH)ut and seek to 

 have universal adherence to its recommendations. 



6. Regulations should be implementetl as .soon as possible to insure appropriate 

 levels of protection for each sex of sperm whale. 



