ACS Conservation Committee Report

ACS Conservation Reports are selected summaries of current news articles on whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their environment. These reports are offered to you under the fair use provisions of U.S. copyright law.

 $3.3 Million Humpback Whale Study Launched...   Hundreds of researchers from 10 Pacific Rim nations will take part in a $3.3 million project to study the humpback whale population, federal marine officials announced in late February. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration said the three-year project will be the most comprehensive study ever of the endangered mammals.

Richard Spinrad, assistant administrator of NOAA's National Ocean Service, said the study ... called SPLASH, for Structure of Populations, Level of Abundance and Status of Humpbacks ... will provide information to better protect the whales in their habitat and rebuild their population.

"SPLASH is a big whale study," he said. "It's a study of big whales, but it's also the biggest and the most ambitious research study ever taken for the North Pacific population of humpback whales. It is unprecedented in terms of international cooperation and in terms of geographic scope."

Hundreds of researchers from the United States, Japan, Russia, Mexico, Canada, Philippines, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Guatemala will be involved in the project. SPLASH will conduct photo identification and biopsy issue sampling in all known humpback whale habitats throughout the Pacific, spanning from the Bering Sea and Russia, south to Costa Rica and west to the Hawaiian waters and beyond.

"I have no doubts that in just a few short years, our understanding of the life cycles, biogeographics of these magnificent marine mammals will expand exponentially," Spinrad said.

The humpback whale was listed as an endangered species in 1973. Scientists estimate that the pre-whaling population of the North Pacific whales was about 15,000, but their numbers have dwindled to about 7,000.

Samuel Pooley, the acting regional administrator of NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands, said the study will help give an updated and more accurate population estimate and help determine whether their numbers are rising or falling. He also hopes to learn more about potential impacts of humans and marine debris on the whale population.

Spinrad said the announcement was made in Hawaii because it is "both physically and historically at the center of humpback whale research."

NOAA researcher David Mattila said the research will focus on Hawaii during the winter months, when thousands of whales come to the islands.

The whales migrate from summer feeding grounds off Alaska, spending their winters mating and calving in the Hawaiian Island chain's warm, shallow coastal waters. An estimated 5,000 humpback whales, or about two-thirds of the North Pacific stock, make the trip each year.

Adult humpbacks grow to a size of up to 45 feet and weigh 25 to 40 tons. Their life span is unknown, but is believed to be about 40 to 60 years.     Associated Press

 Norway Sets Whale-Hunting Dates, Again Defying Ban...   The Norwegian government continued to defy an international ban on commercial whaling as it announced on Feb. 25th the dates for the beginning and end of this year's whale hunting season.

The hunting of whales, outside of the North Sea, will be permitted from May 10 to August 31, the Norwegian fisheries ministry said. The quota this year has, in line with a government announcement last September, been set at 670 whales. Last year, whalers were unable to pull in their entire 671 whale quota due to difficult weather conditions. Only 634 whales were killed.

In defiance of an international ban on whaling dating back to 1986, Norway is the only country in the world to authorize commercial whaling. In practice, however, Japan and, since last year, Iceland, allow whaling, but officially they claim the hunting is only "for scientific purposes."     Agence France-Presse

 Japan Renews Call for Whale Hunting ...   In mid-February, Japan has called for a renewal of whale hunting, stating that whales are highly nutritious and eating whale is a proud national tradition.

Japan believes endangered whales should be protected but that others, such as the minke, are in no danger of dying out and hunting within limits should be allowed. "There are lots of whales. Why is whaling no good?" said Masayuki Komatsu, a senior Fisheries Agency official. "If you don't eat whale, your take of fish goes down, and you have to produce more beef, chicken and pork," he added. "Environmentally, this is very unsound." (The theory that whales are the cause of the commercial fisheries problems has been cited as unsound by a large majority of marine scientists for many years. ACS)

Japan's die-hard pro-whaling stance has left it increasingly at odds with world opinion, even within the International Whaling Commission (IWC), a group originally set up to manage whaling. Tokyo was angered by last year's move to establish an IWC conservation commission and has said it might consider quitting.

Government pamphlets laud the health benefits of whale (not including the high level of toxins found in many whale species-ACS), citing its high protein levels -- which made it a crucial food source for the country after its defeat in World War Two. But with prices high and supplies low following Japan's adoption of a 1986 IWC moratorium on commercial whaling, it has become a pricey gourmet food. Japan still takes several hundred whales each year in what it calls scientific research whaling.

Japanese officials have repeatedly said they would prefer to work within the framework of the IWC, the only world body devoted specifically to whales, but that Tokyo's position has become more difficult as the organization has swung towards conservation. Komatsu, at the Fisheries Agency, said Japan's decision on the group was likely by late June. "The possibility of quitting still remains," he said.     Reuters

 Japan to Enhance Ties with Saint Vincent and Grenadines ...   Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, met in early March and agreed to strengthen relations between the two countries. Gonsalves expressed his gratitude for Japan's economic assistance to help promote the Caribbean island nation's fishing industry. In reply, Koizumi said Japan hopes to cooperate with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to promote the sustainable use of marine resources such as whales. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a supporter of Japan's prowhaling stance at the International Whaling Commission.     Jiji Press Ticker Service

 Wal-Mart Pressured to Make Japanese Affiliate Stop Whale Meat Sales...   The Environmental Investigation Agency, in late February, urged Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to force its affiliated Japanese supermarket chain operator Seiyu Ltd to stop selling whale and dolphin meat.

Seiyu has said that whale meat is part of the traditional Japanese diet and sales of it "have been entirely conducted in conformity with law." The environmental group said it hired a Japanese researcher to call 202 Seiyu retail outlets to ask if they sold whale or dolphin meat, and 123 of them said yes.

Wal-Mart has a 37% stake in Seiyu.     Kyodo News

 New Survey on Whale Watchers Attitudes Toward Whaling Countries...   Source: Parsons, E.C.M. and Rawles, C. 2003. The resumption of whaling by Iceland and the potential negative impact in the Icelandic whale-watching market. Current Issues in Tourism 6: 444-448.

Abstract: Whale-watching tourists were surveyed to determine their opinion on whether they would visit, to go whale-watching, in a country that conducted whale-watching operations: 79% of whale-watchers in the study area said they would boycott a country that conducted hunts for cetaceans, and a further 12.4% stated that although they would visit a country conducting whaling operations, they would not partake in a whale-watching trip in that country (i.e. 91.4% of whale-watchers would not go whale-watching in a country that hunted whales). The results of this study are of great significance to the whale-watching industry in Iceland (currently estimated to be directly worth over US$12 million per annum), a country whose government has stated its wish to resume commercial whaling in 2006, and scientific whaling prior to this date.

 Whale Watching Growing Fast in South Africa...   Whale watching is one of the fastest growing sectors of South Africa's already fast-growing tourism industry, according to Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Rejoice Mabudafhasi.

Mabudafhasi was opening the first International Whale Watching Workshop at the Breakwater Lodge in Cape Town in early March, where delegates, mostly scientists and top conservation managers from 15 countries, participated in formalizing an international framework for whale watching.

"Our policy regarding the utilization of our whale resources is to reserve these exclusively for non-consumptive use, namely boat- and shore based whale watching," the Deputy Minister said. "Whale watching is one of the fastest growing global tourism sectors and is taking place in more than 70 countries. It has grown tremendously in South Africa, and it contributes largely to poverty eradication and job creation.

"Oceans and coasts are facing serious pressures because of degradation, overfishing and poor management, but globally oceans and coasts also have the potential to contribute to the improvement and uplifting of coastal communities. It is through the development of marine and coastal activities along coastal communities, such as whale watching, that conservation is integrated with economic and social needs," she added.

Also speaking at the conference, the British High Commissioner in South Africa, Ann Grant, indicated that whale watching is widely recognized as a truly sustainable way to utilize marine resources.

"This workshop will highlight the socio-economic benefits of sustainable ecotourism, and in particular whale watching. It will demonstrate that whale watching is much more profitable, and sustainable, than killing whales and that with full and effective involvement of local communities and if properly organized, regulated and managed, it can provide financial and other benefits to local people," she said.

Mabudafhasi concluded by indicating that South Africa is in the process of preparing a proposal that will be handed over to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), to identify, evaluate and develop whale watching and other marine and coastal ecotourism activities in Africa. The project will be putting mechanisms in place to assist with the development, management and marketing of marine and coastal ecotourism.

It will also form a blueprint to build partnerships with developers, business entrepreneurs and tour operators from the developed world. South Africa believes that tourism, and specifically whale watching, is a medium that could boost the economy of developing countries.     Business Day, South Africa

 Global Anti Whaling Campaign Launched ...   Whaling is 'too cruel to continue'

A new report, with a foreword by Sir David Attenborough, exposes the cruelty behind whaling.

The report, 'Troubled Waters', was being released in early March to mark the launch of an international campaign against whaling. Key scientific and practical evidence is brought together for the first time to highlight the true extent of the cruelty inherent in the modern day killing of whales. More than 1,400 whales are expected to die this year alone in commercial and 'scientific' whaling operations by Norway, Japan and Iceland.

In his foreword, naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough describes how the report contains "hard scientific dispassionate evidence that there is no humane way to kill a whale at sea."

An unprecedented coalition of over 140 non-governmental organizations in more than 55 countries is taking part in the 'Whalewatch' campaign. It is lobbying the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to call a halt to all commercial and scientific whaling operations, maintain the current ban on commercial whaling and bring the issue of cruelty back to the fore at the 2004 meeting of the IWC that will take place in Sorrento, Italy, in July.

Peter Davies, Director General of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), one of the leading groups in the coalition, said, "The cruelty behind whaling has become obscured in recent years by abstract arguments over population statistics. The fact is that, whether it is one whale or a thousand, whaling is simply wrong on cruelty grounds alone."

Although commercial whaling has been banned since 1986, over 20,000 whales have been killed since the ban came into force. In addition, Japan and Norway have repeatedly announced their long-term intention of continuing whaling and resuming commercial trade in whale products.

The technology used for killing whales has altered little since the 19th century, when the grenade tipped harpoon was invented. The harpoon is intended to penetrate the whale's body before detonating, killing it by inflicting massive shock or injury. Given the constantly moving environment in which whales live and are hunted, there are inherent difficulties in achieving a quick clean kill. Despite its destructive power, the whaler's harpoon often fails to kill its victim instantaneously and some whales take over an hour to die.

The difficulties in hitting a whale with any degree of accuracy can be seen in the margin for human error. For instance, despite similar killing methods being used, Norway reported that one in five whales failed to die instantaneously during its 2002 hunt, while Japan reported that the majority of whales, almost 60%, failed to die instantaneously in its 2002/3 hunt.

Current tests to determine the moment of death in a whale are inadequate. The question remains whether whales may in fact still be alive long after having been judged to be dead. The full extent of their suffering is yet to be scientifically evaluated.     Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

 Dolphin Capture Permit Stopped in Antigua and Barbuda ...   In late February, the Antigua and Barbuda Government has rescinded permission given for the capture of 12 dolphins per year from its waters. The Antigua and Barbuda Independent Tourism Promotion Corporation (ABITPC) received the decision, which reads: "Cabinet at a meeting held on Wednesday 11th February 2004 reconsidered its decision of 20th December 2000 and decided as follows: That the permission granted to Mr. John Mezzanotte to capture twelve (12) dolphins annually from Antigua waters is hereby revoked; That any importation or exportation of dolphins into or from Antigua and Barbuda be in strict compliance with all international obligations of Antigua and Barbuda."

ABITPC pursued legal action when a letter sent to Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister demanding the permission for captures be rescinded failed to provoke any action. News of the groundbreaking case broke last year. ABITPC may still proceed with some legal action relating to the import of dolphins for the swim with program at Dolphin Fantaseas currently operating in Antigua.     The Daily Observer and ABITPC