Annual Report 2007 - 2008

North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission

Layout & editing: NAMMCO Secretariat Printing: BokstavHuset AS, Tromsø, Norway

ISSN 1025-2045 ISBN 978-82-91578-23-1

Please cite this report as: NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008. North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, Tromsø, Norway, 399 pp.

COMMITTEES & OFFICE BEARERS ...... 7

SECTION 1 COUNCIL

1.1 Report of the Seventeenth Meeting of the Council ...... 11

Appendix 1 Agenda ...... 28 Appendix 2 List of Documents ...... 30 Appendix 3 Opening Statements ...... 31 Appendix 4 Presentation by Peter Olsen, KNAPK ...... 38 Appendix 5 Audited Accounts for 2007 ...... 40 Appendix 6 Press Release ...... 4 1

1.2 Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods ...... 43

Appendix 1 List of Laws & Regulations for Marine Mammal Hunting in NAMMCO Member Countries ...... 49 Appendix 2 List of References on Hunting Methods ...... 52

1.1 Report of the Committee on Inspection and Observation ...... 59

Appendix 1 Terms of Reference ...... 6 1

SECTION 2 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES

2.1 Report of the Management Committee for Ceteacenc ...... 65

Appendix 1 Agenda ...... 79 Appendix 2 List of Documents ...... 81 Appendix 3 Statement by Norway ...... 82 Appendix 4 Statement by ICC-Greenland ...... 84 Appendix 5 Recommendations to member countries ...... 85 Appendix 6 Proposed activities of a monitoring programme for long-finned pilot whales ...... 89

2.2 Report of the Management Committee for Seals and Walruses ...... 91

Appendix 1 Agenda ...... 99 Appendix 2 List of Documents ...... 100 Appendix 3 Recommendations to member countries ...... 101

SECTION 3 SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

3.1 Report of the Fifteenth Meeting of the Scientific Committee ...... 105

Executive Summary ...... 105 Main Report ...... 115 Appendix 1 Agenda ...... 176 Appendix 2 List of Documents ...... 180 Appendix 3 References ...... 184

ANNEX 1.1 Report of the NAMMCO Planning Committee on the Trans North Atlantic Sightings Survey, Working Group 3 ...... 186

ANNEX 1.2 Report of the NAMMCO Planning Committee on the Trans North Atlantic Sightings Survey, Working Group 4 ...... 211

ANNEX 1.3 Report of the NAMMCO Planning Committee on the Trans North Atlantic Sightings Survey, Working Group 5 ...... 219

ANNEX 2 Report of the NAMMCO Working Group on Abundance Estimates ...... 252

ANNEX 3 Report of the NAMMCO Working Group on Pilot Whales, April 2008 ...... 273

ADDENDUM Report of the NAMMCO Working Group on Pilot Whales, July 2008 ...... 288

SECTION 4 NATIONAL PROGRESS REPORTS

4.1 Faroe Islands Progress Report on Marine Mammals 2006-7 ...... 303

4.2 Greenland Progress Report on Marine Mammals 2006-7 ...... 311

4.3 Iceland Progress Report on Marine Mammals 2006-7 ...... 321

4.4 Norway Progress Report on Marine Mammals 2006-7 ...... 337

SECTION 5 ADDRESSES

5.1 Delegates and Observers to the Seventeenth Meeting of the Council .. 381

5.2 Council Members in 2007-2008 ...... 385

5.3 Management Committee Members 2007-2008 ...... 387

5.4 Scientific Committee Members 2007-2008 ...... 389

5.5 NAMMCO Scientific Planning Committee on T-NASS Working Group III ...... 391

5.6 NAMMCO Scientific Planning Committee on T-NASS Working Group IV ...... 393

5.7 NAMMCO Scientific Planning Committee on T-NASS Working Group V and Working Group on Abundance Estimates ...... 395

5.8 NAMMCO Working Group on Pilot Whales ...... 397

5.9 Secretariat ...... 399

COMMITTEES AND OFFICE BEARERS

Members of the Commission Councillors Faroe Islands (F) Ms Ulla S. Wang Greenland (G) Ms Amalie Jessen Iceland (I) Ms Ásta Einarsdóttir Norway (N) Mr Halvard P. Johansen

Council Chairs – 1992-1995 Mr Kjartan Høydal (F) 1995-1997 Mr Halvard P. Johansen (N) 1997-1999 Mr Arnór Halldórsson (I) 1999-2004 Ms Amalie Jessen (G) 2004-2008 Ms Kate Sanderson (F) 2008…… Mr Halvard P. Johansen (N)

Committee on Hunting Methods Chairs – 1994-1998 Ms Amalie Jessen (G) 1998-2005 Mr Jústines Olsen (F) 2005… Dr Egil Ole Øen (N)

Committee on Inspection and Observation Chairs – 1993-1995 Mr Einar Lemche (G) 1995-2005 Dr Egil Ole Øen (N) 2005… Mr Ole Heinrich (G)

Finance and Administration Committee Chairs – 1999-2000 Mr Øyvind Rasmussen (N) 2000-2005 Mr Einar Lemche (G) 2005… Ms Ásta Einarsdóttir (I)

Management Committee (as of 2008 divided into MC for Cetaceans and MC for Seals and Walruses) Chairs – 1993-1994 Mr Kjartan Høydal (F) interim 1994-1998 Mr Einar Lemche (G) 1998-2004 Mr Kaj P. Mortensen (F) 2004-2008 Mr Halvard P. Johansen (N)

Management Committee for Cetaceans Chairs - 2008…. Ms Ásta Einarsdóttir (I)

Management Committee for Seals and Walruses Chairs – 2007... Ms Amalie Jessen (G)

Scientific Committee Chairs – 1993-1995 Dr Jóhann Sigurjónsson (I) 1995-1997 Prof. Tore Haug (N) 1997-2000 Dr Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen (G) 2000-2004 Mr Gísli A. Víkingsson (I) 2004 -2005 Prof. Lars Walløe (N) 2005… Dr Geneviève Desportes (F)

Scientific Committee Working Group on Abundance Estimates Chair – 1996… Dr Nils Øien (N)

Scientific Committee Working Group on the Economic Aspects of Marine Mammal – Fisheries Interactions Chairs – 1998-1999 Dr Gunnar Stefánsson (I) 1999-2000 Dr Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid (G) 2000 … Prof. Lars Walløe (N)

Scientific Committee Working Group on the Population Status of Narwhal and Beluga Chair – 1999 -2008 Prof. Øystein Wiig (N) 2008... Dr Rob Hobbs

Scientific Committee Working Group on the North Atlantic Fin Whales Chair – 1999-2003 Mr Gísli A. Víkingsson (I) 2003…. Prof. Lars Walløe (N)

Scientific Committee Working Group on the Stock Status of Walruses in the North Atlantic and Adjacent Seas Chair – 2005…. Dr Erik Born (G)

The NAMMCO Fund (Dissolved as of 2005) Chairs – 1998-2000 Ms Ulla S. Wang (F) 2000-2001 Ms Kate Sanderson (F) 2001-2005 Ms Ulla S. Wang (F)

Secretariat General Secretary Dr Christina Lockyer Scientific Secretary Dr Mario Acquarone Deputy Secretary Ms Charlotte Winsnes NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

SECTION 1 - COUNCIL

1.1 Report of the Seventeenth Meeting of the Council ...... 11

1.2 Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods ...... 43

Appendix 1 List of Laws & Regulations for Marine Mammal Hunting in NAMMCO Member Countries ...... 49 Appendix 2 List of References on Hunting Methods ...... 52

1.1 Report of the Committee on Inspection and Observation ...... 59

Appendix 1 Terms of Reference ...... 6 1

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

1.1 REPORT OF THE SEVENTEENTH MEETING OF COUNCIL 2-4 September 2008, Sisimiut, Greenland

1. OPENING PROCEDURES

The Chair of the Council, Kate Sanderson (Faroe Islands) opened the meeting at Taseralik, the Sisimiut Cultural House, and welcomed all delegates and observers. The list of participants is contained in Section 5.1.

In her opening remarks, the Chair noted that it had been 18 months since the last Annual Meeting but that there had been no shortage of activities in the interim period, not least of which was the successful planning and implementation of T-NASS. She welcomed in particular the new Scientific Secretary, Mario Acquarone as a valuable addition to the Secretariat. He had taken up his position in April last year and was now attending his first annual meeting. On behalf of all participants the Chair thanked the Government of Greenland for hosting the meeting in the beautiful surroundings of Sisimiut.

1.1 Welcome address Mr Finn Karlsen, the Minister for Hunting, Fisheries and Agriculture of Greenland welcomed the 17th Annual Meeting of NAMMCO to Sisimiut, Greenland. The text of Mr Karlsen’s welcome address is contained in Appendix 3.

1.2 Opening statements Opening statements were made by the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway and a written statement was submitted by Japan. These are contained in Appendix 3.

1.3 Admission of Observers Observers from Canada, Denmark, Japan and Russia, North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), International Whaling Commission (IWC), and several Non-Governmental Organisations - Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) and High North Alliance (HNA) were welcomed. Apologies were received from St Lucia, International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), North Atlantic Salmon Commission (NASCO) and European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD) and the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management.

1.4 Invited Speaker Peder Olsen, Chairman of KNAPK, the Greenland Hunters’ and Fishermen’s Association, gave a presentation entitled “Sealing and whaling in Greenland”. The presentation is summarised in Appendix 4.

Commenting on the presentation and opening statements, Minister Karlsen of Greenland expressed his appreciation that KNAPK, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway all share the same views on the importance of ensuring sustainable use of 11

Report of the Council marine mammals, and that NAMMCO is fully mandated to manage all marine mammals, including large whales.

1.5 Adoption of agenda The final draft agenda was adopted without amendments (Appendix 1).

1.6 Meeting arrangements Social arrangements during the meeting included a reception on Monday 1 September at Taseralik, hosted by the Municipality of Sisimiut and a dinner at Hotel Sisimiut on Wednesday 2 September hosted by the Greenland Ministry of Hunting, Fisheries and Agriculture.

2. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 Report of the Finance and Administration Committee The report of the Finance and Administration Committee (NAMMCO/17/4) was presented by the Chair of the Committee, Ásta Einarsdottír (Iceland).

It was noted that the final accounts for the 2007 had been adopted by the Council earlier in the year (see Appendix 5).

The Council endorsed the recommendations and conclusions of the Finance and Administration Committee related to the staff employment survey (review of salary scales and pension), rates for observers under the NAMMCO Observation Scheme, and the status of locally recruited staff in the official category in relation to the Host Agreement.

The Chair noted that adaptation of the salary scheme for Secretariat staff to a UN- based system was a priority issue for the Council in the coming months.

2.2 Commission Draft Budget 2009 The Council adopted the draft Budget for 2009 as contained in NAMMCO/17/4, Annex 1, with a minor increase under the budget item other expenses. The final amended budget and breakdown of membership contributions for 2009 would be circulated immediately after the meeting.

3. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

3.1 Report of the Scientific Committee The Chair of the Scientific Committee, Geneviève Desportes (Faroe Islands) presented the Report of the Scientific Committee (NAMMCO/17/5; Section 3.1).

The presentation of detailed advice on specific stocks and species was referred to the relevant Management Committees. The Scientific Committee Chair therefore focussed her presentation on advice on items common to stocks and species, such as T-NASS (see under Item 3.2), marine mammal fisheries interactions, by-catch, as well as organisational and procedural matters in the work of the Scientific Committee. 12

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

Participation and data presentation in the Scientific Committee The Scientific Committee Chair noted that there was not always full participation of all appointed members, which is problematic for such a small Committee. In addition, some documents presenting data resulting from work coordinated through NAMMCO had not been presented to the Scientific Committee before being dealt with in other bodies.

The Council urged member countries to ensure that their appointed members to the Scientific Committee were in full attendance at Scientific Committee meetings, or where this is not possible, to appoint alternative members with the relevant expertise to address the specific issues being dealt with by the Scientific Committee at any given time. The Council also stressed the importance of having all relevant data presented to the NAMMCO Scientific Committee in a timely fashion to enable it to address fully the requests for advice forwarded from the Council and urged member countries to ensure that this was followed up on a national basis.

The Council reiterated its wish that endorsement of abundance estimates by the Scientific Committee only be carried out on the recommendation of either the NAMMCO Working Group on Abundance Estimates or a NAMMCO Assessment Working Group, in order to provide for the possibility of using the most competent expertise, both internal and external.

Proposed work plan of the Scientific Committee The Council noted the proposed work plan of the Scientific Committee (NAMMCO/17/5; Section 3.1) with working groups and workshops scheduled or proposed for 2009 and 2010 to address outstanding requests for advice and assessments, including work to finalise new abundance estimates for several cetacean species after T-NASS. This proposed work was also considered in more detail by the respective Management Committees.

The Council endorsed the Scientific Committee’s proposed work plan, but noted that the priority of tasks would need to be further clarified after discussions in the Management Committees and in the light of new requests resulting from their deliberations (see Items 5.2 and 6.2).

NAMMCO Scientific Publication Series With respect to the NAMMCO Scientific Publication series, the Grey Seal volume was produced in late 2007, and the NASS volume is scheduled to be finalised before the end of 2008. The volume on Harbour Seals is well under way and is expected to be published in 2009.

The Scientific Committee sought guidance from the Council on the publication of results and analysis of T-NASS. The Scientific Committee recommended a joint publication with the IWC Scientific Publication series, and the Secretariat had already made informal enquires to the IWC Secretariat on this possibility. In response, the Council noted the importance of highlighting the leading role of 13

Report of the Council

NAMMCO in the planning and implementation of T-NASS, underlining that this role should be quite clear in the subsequent publication of data resulting from T-NASS. Although it would be preferable to publish T-NASS results as a stand-alone volume of the NAMMCO Scientific Publication series, it was also noted that timing and editing issues suggest that co-publication with the IWC was likely to be a more effective approach for the dissemination of the material.

The Council therefore agreed that a joint NAMMCO/IWC publication on T-NASS should be pursued.

3.2 Trans-North Atlantic Sightings Survey - T-NASS 2007 The Scientific Committee Chair, Geneviève Desportes, who was also the T-NASS coordinator on behalf of NAMMCO, summarised the report of the T-NASS WG (NAMMCO/17/5 Annexes 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3; Section 4.1) and the outstanding tasks still to be completed. T-NASS was the culmination of previous requests to the Scientific Committee (NAMMCO/13, 14 and 16) and the third such North Atlantic cetacean sightings survey coordinated by NAMMCO (after NASS 1995 and NASS 2001). Non- member countries were encouraged to participate to achieve the broadest coverage possible. Fin, minke and pilot whales were priority species, but the methodology should also accommodate the need for estimates for harbour porpoises especially in Icelandic waters. Estimates and trends of abundance should be produced as soon as possible after completion of the survey programme.

T-NASS had indeed achieved a trans-Atlantic coverage, which had been the aim since the beginning of the NASS surveys. NAMMCO achieved also “value for money” from the T-NASS project. Observers were placed on board other platforms of opportunity, conducting non-whale surveys concomitantly to T-NASS in contiguous areas, thus broadening the coverage. Besides the sightings survey, a methodology adequate for deep-diving species, such as sperm whales, was used from the survey vessels. The involvement of PINRO in Russia should contribute to insuring a compatibility of methodology, and thus abundance estimates, in adjacent areas.

Desportes noted in summary that the synoptic coordinated trans-North Atlantic survey was effectively implemented, and although national priorities are somewhat different, all NAMMCO member countries, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Norway participated and contributed. Also Canada and Russia participated for the first time, thus laying the foundations of a trans-North Atlantic survey spanning from the Barents Sea to the eastern Canadian coast. Opportunistic surveys using ICES Redfish, MAR- ECO and pelagic Norwegian-Russian surveys were undertaken. Timing of the survey was centred in July, although Greenland conducted its main effort in September. The Norway dedicated survey area was unfortunately not contiguous with the other dedicated surveys, although the opportunistic surveys conducted from the two Norwegian vessels involved in the Norwegian-Russian pelagic survey provided a continuity. The Canadian survey in the central Davis Strait had to be cancelled, but the continuity between east and west was insured by the opportunistic survey conducted from the Russian ICES redfish platform.

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

For the first time as well, a NASS survey co-operated with a European – CODA – and an American – SNESSA – concomitant survey, insuring a co-ordinated effort. The broadest synoptic coverage possible was thus achieved with T-NASS, of which the12 dedicated platforms covered 57,781 nm in effort. With the associated surveys included, the total coverage was 71,332 nm.

The fact that the survey was a large synoptic international survey had been crucial in securing funding, at least for the Canadian surveys. However, funds are still needed for some of the analyses. The new cooperation established between the three programmes, and with other non-cetacean programmes, is very valuable. SNESSA, CODA and NAMMCO have agreed to publish as a priority a joint primary publication pertaining to the general distribution of all cetacean species throughout the entire survey area, under the leadership of the T-NASS coordinator and the NAMMCO Secretariat. Finally, the Scientific Committee also recommends that archive data be stored at the NAMMCO Secretariat for future reference.

Abundance estimates are being produced, some of them have already been reviewed by the Scientific Committee, and in the case of the Icelandic coastal minke whale the abundance estimate was endorsed. Estimates for the target species will be reviewed by the NAMMCO ‘fin - large whale’ assessment Working Group which will meet in early spring 2009 (fin, humpback, sei, minke and pilot whales estimates). Most of the other analyses are planned to be completed by the end of 2009.

The Council applauded Geneviève Desportes for her tireless and professional efforts as T-NASS coordinator, also acknowledging the excellent support of the Secretariat.

The Council commended T-NASS as a flagship for NAMMCO and a unique achievement, having provided a much broader coverage than any previous cetacean sightings survey, either in the North Atlantic or in any other region. Areas that had never been covered before or not at the same time as other areas had now been covered. The success of the T-NASS was also due to excellent working relationships with other organisations and research institutes in non-member countries across the North Atlantic. The Council saw the cooperation established between SNESSA, CODA and NAMMCO as very valuable and regarded the joint publication on cetacean distribution as a priority and urged member countries to ensure that the necessary data be provided in a timely fashion to the Secretariat.

The Council noted that changing ecosystems require regular good quality surveys of baseline abundance and distribution, and highlighted the importance of developing updated abundance estimates for the target species as soon as possible, noting that most results will be available in 2009.

A representative from KNAPK (the Greenland Hunters’ and Fishermen’s Association) commented that more minke whales have been observed recently north of Disko Bay and Melville Bay than have been seen before, while no minke whales had been observed in the south, indicating a possible migration north. He suggested that this northern area should therefore be covered in future surveys. (See also Item 4.4 of the 15

Report of the Council

Management Committee for Cetaceans report, Section 2.1.)

Other matters arising from T-NASS related to the conservation and management of specific cetacean species and stocks were referred to the Management Committee for Cetaceans.

3.3 Rules of Procedure The Scientific Committee Chair drew attention to the proposed revision to the Scientific Committee’s Rules of Procedure to extend the Chair’s term from 2 to 3 years in order to provide for better continuity and long-term planning in the work of the Scientific Committee.

The Council approved the proposed revision of the Scientific Committee Rules of Procedures, Article II, paragraph 2 which would now read: The Scientific Committee shall elect by majority vote from amongst its members a Chairman and a Vice- Chairman. The Chairman and vice-Chairman shall serve for three years...... ”.

Geneviève Desportes would therefore serve as Scientific Committee chair for one more year, and the Council welcomed her continuation.

4. NATIONAL PROGRESS REPORTS

National Progress Reports were submitted by all member nations. The Council noted with appreciation the submission of a National Progress Report from Canada, and thanked Russia and Japan for submitting comprehensive reports of their marine mammal research to the Scientific Committee. These documents were also circulated as Council documents for general information. The Chair proposed that questions related to the specific contents of the National Progress Reports should be taken up in the relevant Management Committees.

5. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR CETACEANS

5.1 Report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans The Report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans (NAMMCO/17/6; Section 2.1) was presented by its Chair, Halvard P. Johansen (Norway).

Species / Stocks The Council noted the deliberations of the Committee with respect to species and stocks of whales of interest to member countries. The Management Committee for Cetaceans Chair reported to the Council on the proposals for conservation and management agreed for stocks of cetaceans in the North Atlantic (See also Item 4. of the Management Committee for Cetaceans report, Section 2.1.)

The Council also noted the deliberations of the joint session of the Management Committee for Cetaceans and Management Committee for Seals and Walruses (Item 6. in the report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans, Section 2.1) to discuss conservation and management related issues of overlapping interest, including marine 16

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 mammal fisheries interactions, environmental issues, by-catch and users knowledge in management decision-making.

The Council also took note of the recommendations for further research identified by the Scientific Committee and endorsed by the Management Committee for Cetaceans, noting that these recommendations are directed to individual member countries for appropriate action (see the report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans, Section 2.1, Appendix 5).

5.2 Requests for advice from the Scientific Committee The Council agreed to forward the following requests for advice to the Scientific Committee, as recommended by the Management Committee for Cetaceans:

Narwhal and Beluga The Scientific Committee is requested to update the assessment of both narwhal and beluga, noting that new data warrant such an exercise. The NAMMCO Scientific Committee/JCNB Joint Working Group should meet before March 2009, to allow the updated assessment to be available for setting the new quota series. Greenland should submit fully corrected estimates derived from the 2006, 2007 and 2008 surveys to the joint Working Group. In addition, as in 2006, advice should also be forwarded to the Canada/Greenland Joint Commission on Conservation and Management of Narwhal and Beluga (JCNB).

Fin whales The Scientific Committee is requested to complete an assessment of fin whales in the North Atlantic and also to include an estimation of sustainable catch levels in the Central North Atlantic. This work should be initiated as soon as all estimates become available and before the next meeting of the Scientific Committee.

Minke whales The Scientific Committee is requested to conduct a full assessment, including long-term sustainability of catches, of common minke whales in the Central North Atlantic once results from the 2009 survey become available. In the meantime the Scientific Committee is requested to assess the short-term (2-5 year) effects of the following total annual catches: 0, 100, 200, 400.

Sei whales The Scientific Committee is requested to review the new data from T-NASS and associated surveys and report on the status of sei whales through the Fin Whale assessment WG.

Humpback whales The Scientific Committee is requested to assess the long-term effects of catches of 0, 2, 5, 10, 20 humpback whales off West Greenland and estimate sustainable yields for other stocks, as well as to conduct a formal assessment following the completion of the T-NASS. In addition, the relationship between the humpback whales summering in West Greenland and other areas should be investigated and this knowledge 17

Report of the Council incorporated into the estimate of sustainable yields of West Greenland humpback whales.

Management models for baleen whales The Scientific Committee is requested to study general models for conservation and management of baleen whales, inter alia based on Norwegian studies presented to the Scientific Committee of the IWC.

Role of Marine Mammals in the Ecosystem In addressing the standing requests on ecosystem modeling and marine mammal fisheries interaction, the Scientific Committee is requested to extend the focus to include all areas under NAMMCO jurisdiction. In the light of the distributional shifts seen under T-NASS 2007, the Scientific Committee should investigate dynamic changes in spatial distribution due to ecosystem changes and functional responses.

5.3 Other business The Council welcomed the election of Ásta Einarsdóttir as Chair and Ulla S. Wang as Vice-Chair of the Management Committee on Cetaceans for the period 2008-2010.

6. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR SEALS AND WALRUSES

6.1 Report of the Management Committee for Seals and Walrus The Report of the Management Committee for Seals and Walruses (NAMMCO/17/7; Section 2.2) was presented by its Chair, Amalie Jessen (Greenland).

Species / Stocks The Council noted the deliberations of the Committee with respect to species and stocks of seals and walruses of interest to member countries. The Management Committee for Seals and Walruses Chair reported to the Council that there were no new proposals for conservation and management agreed for stocks of seals and walruses in the North Atlantic (see also Item 4. of the Management Committee for Seals and Walruses report, Section 2.2).

The Council also took note of the recommendations for further research identified by the Scientific Committee and endorsed by the Management Committee for Seals and Walruses, noting that these recommendations are directed to individual member countries for appropriate action (see the report of the Management Committee for Seals and Walruses, Section 2.2, Appendix 3).

6.2 Recommendations for requests for advice The Council agreed to forward the following requests for advice to the Scientific Committee, as recommended by the Management Committee for Seals and Walruses:

Harp seals The Scientific Committee is requested to provide advice on Total Allowable Catches for the management of this species and the establishment of a quota system for the common stocks between Norway and the Russian Federation, leaving full freedom to 18

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 the Committee to decide on the best methods to determine this parameter based on an ecosystem approach.

The Council noted the importance for the study of harp seal ecology that satellite tags can be deployed in the White and Barents Sea in 2009 and encouraged the Russian authorities to allow the continuation of this study.

6.3 Any other business The Council took note of discussions in the Management Committee on Seals and Walruses related to trade bans against seal products. Although NAMMCO does not deal formally with trade issues, all Council members shared concerns that moves within the European Union to impose import bans on seal products can have serious implications for the responsible management and sustainable utilisation of abundant seal stocks across the North Atlantic, and for the economies of the many communities dependent on these valuable resources.

The Council noted that such import bans were not being proposed due to any concerns about the conservation status of seal stocks in the North Atlantic. Rather, they appear to have their basis in discussions related to hunting methods (see reports from ESFA and COWI under the auspices of the European Commission), which are unfortunately very often confounded by misleading and inaccurate depictions of sealing practices publicised throughout the media.

It was nevertheless noted that there appears to be a growing understanding in many countries that seal stocks are legitimate and abundant resources. This was a major focus of the International Conference “Seals and society – how to manage resources and interactions in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic”, held in Vaasa, Finland in October 2007. The importance of seals as resources was also clearly underlined in the declaration “Seals and Society” adopted by the Nordic Fisheries Ministers at their meeting in Växjö, Sweden on 26 June 2008. The Council welcomed these developments.

7. HUNTING METHODS

7.1 Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods The Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods (NAMMCO/17/8; Section 1.2) was presented by its Chair, Egil Ole Øen. (Norway).

Workshop plans - Handling, processing and utilisation of hunted marine mammals The Council expressed it support for the on-going planning of the Committee for the proposed workshop on handling, processing and utilisation of hunted marine mammals, which is now scheduled for November 2009, with Sandefjord, Norway as a suggested venue. Seals, whales and walruses should be included in the workshop discussions. Hunters will be the main participants, as well as researchers and representatives from all relevant countries where whaling and sealing is conducted. It was also noted that

Report of the Council input from food safety and hygiene experts and authorities would also be important for the workshop.

New developments in member countries With regard to the reported new instrument for use in killing pilot whale, the Faroe Islands informed the Council that the a spinal lance is not yet in general use but has great potential as an efficient new tool, noting that it has been developed on the initiative of experienced whalers. The Faroe Islands also informed the Council that a full revision of the 1998 executive order on pilot whaling is planned, which will adapt the regulations to take account of new developments in equipment and other matters related to the organisation and division of whale catches.

The Council also noted the information from Greenland, reviewed by the Hunting Methods Committee, that that a quota of 2 bowhead whales was allocated for 2009. Plans are to use a grenade cannon as is used in the hunting of fin whales. The Hunting Methods Committee provided Greenland with advice on the best targeting methods, recommended a 3-year year trial period in which methods could be developed and agreed that it would be important to identify a small number of vessels (2 – 3) with a license to hunt the quota under monitored and controlled circumstances and thus gain the necessary experience to adapt the best possible hunting methods.

Best practices in sealing With reference to the Hunting Committee suggestion for how to proceed with the requested work to focus on best practices in sealing (NAMMCO/17/8, Item 7.1; Section 1.2), the Council confirmed the following work plan and terms of reference: • The work should build upon the knowledge and experiences already gathered in previous workshops organised by the Committee and possible new developments emerging since the last workshop held in 2006. • The work should be undertaken in a focussed group of specially invited experts with experience in seal hunting practices from sealing nations and communities. • The expert group will critically assess different seal hunting methods within their contexts, addressing such questions as: ° The use of specific hunting methods and equipment in particular settings ° Training requirements for hunters ° Control and monitoring of hunting methods ° Research needs to improve the basis for further assessment. • The expert group will develop recommendations on best practices based on state of the art in sealing today and identify where and how specific improvements can be made. • As background information for the work of the expert group, the Secretariat, in cooperation with the Hunting Methods Committee, will prepare a collation of relevant information and recommendations on seal hunting methods from previous NAMMCO workshops and other relevant and up-to-date sources of information on sealing practices. 20

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

It is expected that the expert group will convene in the spring of 2009 and its conclusions will be presented to the Council at its next annual meeting.

7.2 Other business Council members agreed with comments by Greenland that the work of the Committee on Hunting Methods should be publicised. The Council endorsed Greenland’s suggestion that efforts be made to disseminate the work of the Committee and its workshops more widely. The focus should be on the valuable exchange of expertise and information between hunters and technical experts through NAMMCO, which aims to ensure the best possible humane killing methods in different forms of whaling, sealing and walrus hunting.

The observer from Japan informed the Council that Japan’s intention is to send whale killing data and information to NAMMCO. Japan has suspended submission of data on hunting methods to the IWC and has informed that organisation that Japan will submit data to NAMMCO. The Chair thanked Japan and underlined that relevant data submitted by Japan was always very welcome.

8. THE JOINT NAMMCO CONTROL SCHEME

8.1 Report of the Committee on Inspection and Observation The Chair of the Committee on Inspection and Observation, Ole Heinrich (Greenland), presented the Report of the Committee (NAMMCO/17/9; Section 1.3).

The Committee on Inspection and Observation has over the past year been working on the Council’s request to revise the provisions of the Joint NAMMCO Control Scheme in order to integrate requirements for observer training to ensure observer safety onboard vessels, and to take account of recent technological developments in automated monitoring. A draft revision of the provisions of the Scheme was under consideration by members of the Committee, but it had not been possible to finalise its text prior to the Council meeting.

The Council therefore agreed to defer the issue until next year, but requested the Secretariat to circulate the most recent draft revision to heads of delegations for information. The Committee was asked to finalise the revision as soon as possible and to ensure that the provisions are fully up-to-date and do not have to be revisited too frequently. It was also underlined that the existing provisions are certainly still an adequate basis for observation activities in the coming year.

8.2 NAMMCO International Observation Scheme 2007 and 2008 The report on the implementation of the NAMMCO International Observation Scheme in 2007 and 2008 (NAMMCO/17/10; Section 1.4) was presented by the Deputy Secretary Charlotte Winsnes. In 2007, a NAMMCO observer was stationed in the Faroe Islands and observed a catch of 231 pilot whales in August. In 2008, a NAMMCO observer was on board a sealing vessel in Norway and observed a total of 397 seals hunted. No violations were observed in either year and observers reported and carried out their work according to the provisions of the Scheme. 21

Report of the Council

In response to general comments from the Secretariat regarding the logistical challenges associated with placing NAMMCO observers in the field, sometimes at very short notice, the Council agreed that all efforts possible should be made by national authorities to provide the Scheme with a larger pool of suitably qualified people as official NAMMCO observers.

9. ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT

The Chair recalled that at NAMMCO/16 it had been decided to transfer this agenda item from the former General Management Committee to the Council agenda for future meetings to avoid duplication of discussions. At the same time it was noted that this item could still be considered with regard to the specific conservation and management focus of the respective Management Committees.

A substantive discussion on the subject of Ecosystem-based Management took place in 2006 in the former General Management Committee, based on the report of the ad hoc Working Group on enhancing Ecosystem-Based Management, which had met in September 2005. A number of recommendations were made for follow up discussions and the ad hoc Working Group was requested to meet inter-sessionally. However, this group had not met since 2005.

The Chair pointed out that the Council now needed to make a decision on how it wished to deal with this issue as a general item on its own agenda. The Chair reminded delegations that NAMMCO has, since its inception, recognised the need for ecosystem approaches to management. Requests for advice from the Scientific Committee also focus on developing a better understanding of the relationship between marine mammals and other marine living resources, and the impact of environmental factors. These and other related issues were also items on the agendas of both the Management Committees (Cetaceans and Seals and Walruses), and a joint session of both Committees had dealt with these matters (Items 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 in the report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans, Section 2.1).

It was noted that the development of ecosystem models for use in management was a time-consuming process, but that enough progress had been made in this area recently to warrant new consideration and a broader terms of reference in the Scientific Committee Working Group on marine mammal-fisheries interactions (see Item 5.2 above).

The Council also welcomed the report from the NAMMCO observer who had taken part in the FAO ecosystem modelling workshop in Rome in 2007 (NAMMCO/17-12-INFO 2).

In summary it was noted that the Scientific Committee has new work planned in the near future and the Management Committees for Cetaceans and Seals and Walruses have ecosystem-related issues on their agendas in order to relate new scientific knowledge to conservation and management recommendations.

Given this, the Council decided to discontinue the ad hoc Working Group on ecosystem- 22

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 based management. It was stressed that discussions of a general nature on the management level in recent years had been useful, and the efforts of the members of the ad hoc Working Group were appreciated. However, the continued scientific and management focus on these issues was more appropriate for detailed discussion in the respective Management Committees. It was however also agreed to keep this item on the Council agenda as an opportunity to follow developments in more general terms and to review how other relevant international bodies are addressing both the concepts and the practicalities of ecosystem-based management.

10. USER KNOWLEDGE IN MANAGEMENT DECISION -MAKING

In 2006, following up on the successful NAMMCO Conference on User Knowledge and Scientific Knowledge in Management Decision-Making in 2003 and the subsequent publication of the proceedings, the Working Group on User Knowledge in Management had been re-established under the chairmanship of Egil Ole Øen (Norway) and new Terms of Reference agreed (see Annual Report NAMMCO 2005, p. 25). However, due to other priorities and staff changes in the Secretariat during this period, the Working Group had not had an opportunity to meet since then.

Greenland highlighted the importance of this issue and the need to maintain a clear focus within NAMMCO on the role of users in marine mammal research, conservation and management. The Conference and its proceedings had provided much insight into approaches in different contexts, and it remained therefore a very useful reference for future discussions.

The Council noted that the joint session of the Management Committee on Cetaceans and the Management Committee on Seals and Walruses had recommended that the issue of user knowledge in management decision-making should be returned to the agendas of the Management Committees for future meetings for discussion in relation to conservation and management recommendations.

The Council agreed to this recommendation, and as a result also agreed to dispense with the associated Working Group, noting that any further dedicated treatment of this issue would be decided in relation to deliberations in the respective Management Committees at future meetings.

11. ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS

Report of the expert meeting on potential positive health effects of consuming whale and seal oil The General Secretary Christina Lockyer presented a summary of the report of the 23

Report of the Council

Expert Meeting on Potential Positive Health Effects of Consuming Whale and Seal Oil (NAMMCO/17/13), organised by NAMMCO and held in Copenhagen on 3 October 2007, with sponsorship from NORDEN (the Nordic Council of Ministers), Indigenous Survival International Greenland and NAMMCO. The workshop was chaired by Professor Lars Walløe (Norway) and attended by a total of 17 experts from diverse backgrounds of medicine, government and industry from all NAMMCO member countries. A summary report from the workshop was presented on behalf of NAMMCO by the workshop chair at the International Conference on Seals and Society in Vaasa, Finland in October 2007.

The expert meeting heard reports of trials and beneficial effects of seal oil consumption on intestinal disorders, arthritic joint pain associated with Irritable Bowel Disease, food allergies, psoriatic arthritis, reducing menstrual pain and cardiovascular disease – especially in the area of lowering blood pressure. Seal oil was also noted as an anti-thrombitic – excess of dietary omega-3 fatty acids have been noted naturally to produce hemorrhagic nose bleeding in Inuit people, for reducing cholesterol levels in blood and enhancing effects of omega-3 fatty acid intake from fish. The meeting also heard how changes in diet in the last 30 years away from traditional marine mammal diet to European diet has resulted in an increase in obesity and also certain types of heart disease in Inuit people. At the same time this dietary switch has produced a lowering of contaminant levels in the diet even though these have remained stable in the marine mammals over time.

The main conclusions were that the effective components were omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, especially effective in the unrefined state. The meeting recommended further research to investigate the active components of unrefined marine mammal oil, to publish better documentation of research results and more random sampling and double-blind and placebo experiments. Future research should perhaps focus on specific applications such as in the field of cardiovascular disease.

The Council welcomed the report of the Workshop and expressed its appreciation to Professor Walløe of Norway for chairing the event. It was noted that the workshop had been very useful in identifying the range and extent of research findings on the health benefits of consuming whale and seal oil, while also clearly highlighting further research needs.

Norway stressed the importance of continuing research efforts in this field to better document the health advantages of marine mammals in the diet. The Faroe Islands noted that contaminants in the marine ecosystem lead to accumulations in top predators, especially small whales and seals. It is important that NAMMCO highlight this issue in terms of the need to take action to eliminate marine pollution and stop the contamination of an otherwise excellent food resource.

The Council noted that the health risks associated with high levels of pollutants in some species of small whales and seals warrants continued monitoring. But it was also stressed that the documented health benefits of a diet rich in marine fats need to be balanced against these risks. 24

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

The Council concluded that stronger global efforts to reduce pollution in the marine environment were crucial to ensuring that the high quality food provided by marine mammals can continue to contribute to both local and global food security. The perspective of whaling and sealing nations where marine mammals are an important part of the diet needs to be better communicated in order to strengthen global commitments to eliminate pollution in the marine environment.

OSPAR The Chair recalled that at its last meeting the Council had been informed that OSPAR is consulting with relevant fisheries organisations in connection with the preparation of a Quality Status Report (QSR) for the Northeast Atlantic in 2010. The Chair noted that this work is now well underway within OSPAR.

The General Secretary informed the Council of recent correspondence from OSPAR requesting information on the status of Northeast Atlantic bowhead, blue and northern right whales in relation to an intended update of OSPAR’s 2003 “List of threatened and/or declining species and/or habitats”, which is also to be incorporated into the QSR 2010. Norway reported that the IUCN Red List has recent updates on these species, Cetaceans update of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In this list Svalbard-Barents Sea bowhead whales are listed as Critically Endangered (CR), northern right whale as Endangered (EN), blue whales in the North Atlantic as Vulnerable (VU) and humpback whales as Least Concern (LC).

The Chair referred to previous Council discussions on the importance of maintaining active working relations with OSPAR and providing up-to-date reliable information on the status of marine mammal stocks dealt with through NAMMCO. It was concluded that the NAMMCO Secretariat should follow the OSPAR QSR process more closely and provide all relevant NAMMCO information on marine mammals. It should be stressed in this connection that the QSR should not only focus on stocks and species classified as “threatened and/or in decline”, but also provide a broader overview of marine mammals as resources in the Northeast Atlantic region, as indeed OSPAR intended to do in relation to fish stocks and fisheries.

12. EXTERNAL RELATIONS

The Chair referred to document NAMMCO/17/11, which provided a compilation of information and observer reports from meetings of a number of international organisations with which NAMMCO has established formal relations. These included observer reports from IWC Commission and Scientific Committee meetings, the 5th meeting of the FAO Regional Fisheries Bodies, Arctic Council SAO meetings, and annual meetings of NEAFC and NAFO and NASCO since the last NAMMCO Annual Meeting. In addition, the Secretariat attended the 5th NARFMO meeting, a forum for the Secretariats of the Regional Fisheries Management Bodies in the North Atlantic, and the Norwegian Small Whalers Union.

Noting the establishment in 2006 of working relations between the respective Scientific Committees of NAMMCO and NAFO on issues related to the role of 25

Report of the Council marine mammals in the ecosystem, the Council welcomed plans for the forthcoming Symposium on the Role of Marine Mammals in the Ecosystem in the 21st Century (29 September – 1 October, Dartmouth, Canada). These issues remain among the core considerations of NAMMCO. NAMMCO is a co-sponsor of the Symposium together with ICES and NAFO. The NAMMCO Scientific Committee has been liaising with the co-convenors on the programme for the Conference and NAMMCO will be hosting a reception for the occasion.

For the guidance of the Secretariat in responding to invitations from other organisations, the Council agreed to delegate NAMMCO observers among member countries as follows: Norway would represent NAMMCO at relevant meetings of NEAFC, Iceland at relevant meetings of NAFO, and the Faroe Islands at relevant meetings of NASCO.

NAMMCO had received an invitation to be represented at the COP9 meeting of the Bonn Convention (Convention on Migratory Species), 1 – 5 December in Rome. Norway offered to represent NAMMCO at this meeting.

13. INFORMATION

The General Secretary introduced NAMMCO/17/12. A variety of reports from scientific and other meetings was presented, as well as information about forthcoming meetings. The Chair thanked the Secretariat for the comprehensive information provided and noted the importance of making information on NAMMCO activities and publications widely available, such as through appropriate attendance at relevant meetings and conferences.

Particular reference was made to the International Conference “Seals and society – how to manage resources and interactions in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic”, which was held in Vaasa, Finland in October 2007. NAMMCO was formally involved in the programme planning and the Chair of the Council had chaired the final panel discussion at the Conference. The Council was informed that a draft report from this meeting had been prepared soon after the conference, and that the final report was expected to be published and posted on the conference website within the next week.

The Council also welcomed the Declaration on “Seals and Society” adopted by the Nordic Fisheries Ministers at their meeting in Växjö, Sweden on 26 June 2008. The declaration, which the Swedish minister who chaired the meeting has subsequently forwarded to the EU Commissioner for the Environment, clearly emphasises the importance of seals as resources. It also recognises the role of NAMMCO in international cooperation on the conservation and management of seal stocks and work within NAMMCO on hunting methods, and encourages NAMMCO to continue these efforts.

14. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Halvard P. Johansen (Norway) was elected as Chair of the Council for the next two 26

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 years. Ásta Einarsdóttír (Iceland) was elected as Vice-Chair of the Council for the next two years.

15. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

In concluding the meeting and her second two-year term as Chair of the Council, Kate Sanderson thanked all delegations and observers for their excellent cooperation, both during this meeting and since taking up office. She extended her warmest appreciation to the Secretariat staff for their professional work and for their support during her chairmanship, and welcomed Halvard P. Johansen of Norway to the chair of the Council, wishing him every success in moving forward the important work of NAMMCO.

In appreciation of her efforts as Chair, Halvard P. Johansen on behalf of the Council presented the out-going Chair with a parting gift and thanked her for her competent leadership over the past 4 years.

16. CLOSING ARRANGEMENTS

16.1 Next meeting The 18th Annual Meeting of NAMMCO (NAMMCO/18) will be held in Norway in the first half of September 2009. Specific dates, location and venue will be communicated by the Secretariat as soon as possible.

16.2 Adoption of press release A Press Release highlighting major issues discussed and decided during the Annual Meeting was adopted (Appendix 6).

Report of the Council

Appendix 1 AGENDA

1. Opening Procedures 1.1 Welcome address 1.2 Opening statements 1.3 Admission of Observers 1.4 Invited Speaker: Presentation on sealing and whaling in Greenland by the Director of KNAPK , Peder Olsen 1.5 Adoption of agenda 1.6 Meeting arrangements

2. Finance and Administration 2.1 Report of the Finance and Administration Committee 2.2 Commission Draft Budget 2009 2.3 Other business

3. Scientific Committee 3.1 Report of the Scientific Committee 3.2 TNASS 3.3 Other business

4. National Progress Reports

5. Management Committee for Cetaceans 5.1 Report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans 5.2 Recommendations for requests for advice 5.3 Other business

6. Management Committee for Seals and Walruses 6.1 Report of the Management Committee for Seals and Walrus 6.2 Recommendations for requests for advice 6.3 Any other business

7. Hunting Methods 7.1 Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods 7.2 Other business

8. The Joint NAMMCO Control Scheme 8.1 Report of the Committee on Inspection and Observation 8.2 NAMMCO International Observation Scheme 2007 8.3 NAMMCO International Observation Scheme 2008 8.3 Other business

9. Ecosystem-based Management

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

10. User Knowledge in Management Decision-making

11. Environmental questions 11.1 Report of the expert meeting on potential positive health effects of consuming whale and seal oil

12. External relations 12.1 Cooperation with international organisations 12.2 Other business

13. Information

14. Election of officers 14.1 Chair of Council 14.2 Vice-Chair of Council

15. Any other business

16. Closing arrangements 16.1 Next meeting 16.2 Adoption of press release.

Report of the Council

Appendix 2 LIST OF DOCUMENTS

NAMMCO/17/1 List of Participants NAMMCO/17/2 Agenda NAMMCO/17/3 List of Documents NAMMCO/17/4 Report of Finance and Administration Committee NAMMCO/17/4 ANNEX 1 Commission draft budget 2009 NAMMCO/17/5 Report of the Scientific Committee NAMMCO/17/5 Addendum Report of the NAMMCO Working Group on Pilot Whales, July 2008. NAMMCO/17/6 Report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans NAMMCO/17/7 Report of the Management Committee for Seals and Walrus NAMMCO/17/8 Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods NAMMCO/17/9 Report of the Committee on Inspection and Observation NAMMCO/17/10 NAMMCO International Observation Scheme 2007 and 2008 NAMMCO/17/11 External Relations NAMMCO/17/12 Information

NAMMCO/17/NPR-F National Progress Report Faroe Islands NAMMCO/17/NPR-G National Progress Report Greenland NAMMCO/17/NPR-I National Progress Report Iceland NAMMCO/17/NPR-N National Progress Report Norway NAMMCO/17/NPR-C National Progress Report Canada NAMMCO/17/NPR-R National Progress Report Russian Federation

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

Appendix 3 OPENING STATEMENTS TO THE COUNCIL BY MEMBER DELEGATIONS AND OBSERVER GOVERNMENTS

GREENLAND – WELCOME ADDRESS Minister of Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture, Mr Finn Karlsen

Madam Chair, Delegates, Observers, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, it is an honour to welcome you to the 17th NAMMCO Annual Meeting in Sisimiut, Greenland.

The North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission has provided vital management advice since its creation in 1992.

The above mentioned advices are based on advice provided by the Scientific Committee or on our own requests. Examples of the latter are that we, a couple of years ago, requested from Scientific Committee to give advice on how different quotas on humpback will impact the stock size. NAMMCO´S Scientific Committee concluded that a quota of ten will not have any impact on the population.

Based on that background, Greenland requested a humpback quota from the International Whaling Commission and thereby have the IWC Scientific Committee re-emphasize what the NAMMCO Scientific Committee had already established.

However, our request for a humpback quota was turned down by the majority of countries in the International Whaling Commission despite the conclusion by the Scientific Committee that Greenland had fulfilled all the requirements for such a quota.

The situation has of course created the political consideration of whether or not we should discuss if we are to continue our participation in the future of the IWC.

NAMMCO has a special situation in this matter, and in connection with this NAMMCO Annual Meeting and we would like to express clearly that it is our desire to discuss if it is not the time to alter the Agreement on the establishment of NAMMCO and evaluate whether or not NAMMCO can become a body with a jurisdiction on providing large whale quotas. On this behalf, we from Greenland would like to suggest that we establish an ad hoc working group that investigates this issue.

We all know that seals are now the focus of debate in the international arena, with a proposed EU ban on import as a next example. NAMMCO member countries and sealing countries have in that connection, done extensive work to prevent the ban and limit the harm done to our hunters as much as possible.

We all are aware that the campaign against marine mammal hunting is usually based 31

Report of the Council on ignorance of the fact that conservation and humane killing methods are very important for hunters.

Despite the grave state of the situation I believe that we ourselves also make a contribution to improving the image of hunting.

With that background, I am pleased to hear that the NAMMCO Committee on Hunting Methods is planning to hold an expert Working Group on “Best hunting practices” and I look forward to hear more on this issue.

Lately, we ourselves experienced an incident that we certainly are not proud of, namely that narwhals were found in a certain location with only some usable parts removed. This is just one sign that we need to discuss more good hunting practices among ourselves.

During the years NAMMCO has held seminars and workshops on different hunting methods on different marine mammals. These workshops and seminars have resulted in recommendations. It seems that these recommendations are followed up and I am therefore pleased to find out that there will be a workshop on treatment, processing and utilization of marine mammals as kind of a conclusion to previous workshops; and a publishing of all previous recommendations.

With these words I would once again like to welcome you here; and referring to my statements, I am looking forward to making NAMMCO stronger as an organization that has jurisdiction on large whales because we sometimes wish for a more active role for NAMMCO on certain issues.

Thank you and have good meeting.

FAROE ISLANDS – OPENING STATEMENT

Madam Chair, Minister, Delegates, Observers, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure for the Faroe Islands to be attending the 17th Annual Meeting of NAMMCO, and we would like to thank Greenland for hosting this year’s meeting and inviting us to this beautiful town of Sisimiut.

In 2007 the Scientific Committee of NAMMCO, which the Faroe Islands currently chair, coordinated the major cetacean sightings survey in the North Atlantic – T- NASS 2007. T-NASS was very well planned and successfully carried out, with broad participation across the North Atlantic. The Faroe Islands are pleased to have made our contribution to the shipboard part of T-NASS in our area, and we now look forward to the completion of the data analysis that will provide us with updated abundance estimates, not least for the pilot whale stock in our region.

Madam Chair, this year is very unusual one for us in the Faroe Islands. There has so far not been a single catch of pilot whales around our shores in 2008. We have not had 32

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 an entire year without a pilot whale catch since 1927, and we know that this is not due to any depletion of the stock. Climate and ecosystem fluctuations are likely to be the explanation, and we have also seen dramatic changes in the distribution of some important fish stocks across the Northeast Atlantic in recent years. Hopefully increased research in this area will provide us with a better understanding of these factors. Continued biological monitoring is also very important and we look forward to a more detailed presentation of the Scientific Committee’s recommendations for our regular monitoring and sampling of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands.

The Faroe Islands very much welcome planned discussions this week on procedures for deciding on conservation and management measures. We have always believed that cooperation through NAMMCO should apply actively to all marine mammal stocks of interest to member countries, including large whales, and we have always been ready to support specific measures in this regard. It is 16 years since the NAMMCO agreement was signed, and we believe the time has come for this organisation to activate its mandate and responsibility for managing all whales in the North Atlantic, a responsibility that the IWC is quite clearly not capable of fulfilling.

Although the Faroe Islands are not a sealing nation, we follow discussions on sealing management and hunting methods in NAMMCO with great interest. We are very concerned about the trend towards using trade bans against legitimate forms of sealing in the North Atlantic. Such bans undermine the fundamental principles on which our cooperation in NAMMCO is based, the responsible management and sustainable use of living marine resources and the rights of nations to use – and trade in - their natural resources. As the only international management body for cooperation on seal stocks, NAMMCO seal-related work should be seen as setting the international standard, both with respect to scientific assessment and management measures for shared stocks, as well as for transparent review and discussion of hunting methods in different forms of sealing.

The Faroese delegation is looking forward to contributing to what we hope will be a constructive and productive annual meeting this week.

ICELAND – OPENING STATEMENT

Madam Chair, Delegates, Observers, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that the Icelandic delegation attends the 17th Annual Meeting of NAMMCO here in Sisimiut.

NAMMCO plays a great importance for Iceland as sustainable utilisation of marine resources is of fundamental significance for the economic survival of the Icelandic people. In fact we have no other alternative then to give sustainable utilisation of marine resources such a high status.

Sustainable utilisation of marine mammals is not only important to Iceland but it is crucial for all of the NAMMCO member states. The main basis for our economic 33

Report of the Council welfare is utilising the living resources of the sea. Marine mammals are not only an important part of the marine ecosystem. They are a part that must be utilised in a sustainable way, like other parts of the ecosystem and there is no logical reason for treating marine mammals differently then other living resources of the sea.

For this reason international cooperation in this field is of a great importance to us all and we need to work together for the sustainable utilisation, conservation and study of these resources. NAMMCO has made valuable contributions to the conservation and sustainable management of marine mammals.

In particular the work conducted by the Scientific Committee has been of great importance to Iceland. As an example, assessments by the Scientific Committee have formed the main basis for management decisions taken by Icelandic authorities concerning fin and minke whales.

In 2007, Iceland participated in the largest cetacean survey ever conducted in the world (T-NASS). This survey was successfully coordinated by the Scientific Committee of NAMMCO.

Iceland adheres strongly to the ecosystem approach to management of marine resources, including marine mammals. This view is shared by the other NAMMCO countries. To advance this approach a comprehensive scientific programme is being conducted on the feeding ecology of common minke whales in Icelandic waters. Iceland was happy to present the preliminary results from this programme at the NAMMCO council meeting in Selfoss in 2006. Preliminary findings from this programme indicate that commercial fish species such as cod constitute a considerably higher portion of the minke whale’s diet than previously assumed. These results underline the importance of scientific work for a better understanding of the marine ecosystem for management.

We are confident that, as past meetings, this meeting will be fruitful and constructive, based on objective, and science-based approach.

NORWAY - OPENING STATEMENT

Madam Chair, Minister, Delegates, Observers and Guests, Dear Friends,

It is indeed a pleasure to meet here in Sisimiut, Greenland, for the seventeenth meeting of the NAMMCO Council. I believe that we, during this meeting, will confirm the status of NAMMCO as a useful regional management body for marine mammals.

Many countries accept whaling and sealing in some nations, both in countries with a developed economy and in countries where the economy is less developed depending on who is conducting the whaling and sealing. Norway has the strong opinion that all whaling and sealing have to be based on science, and that no whaling and sealing should be conducted if it is not sustainable.

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

The debate about management of marine mammals today is mainly emotional. It is disturbing that the attitude towards science as the basis for managing whale stocks is vanishing. This is especially important as we have to base our management of wildlife in general on science. Also, we have to solve international conflicts in the environmental field (global warming, biological diversity, IUU fishing, effects of pollution, etc.) on a scientific basis. Whaling and sealing is not a major issue in this context, but the actions of governments in this matter may create an international precedent for similar actions in more important issues. We cannot accept that a legal activity conducted with the best practice in one country is not accepted in another country because of emotions.

We recognize the fact that governments allow themselves to describe some mammals as pest animals (musk rat, possum, kangaroo, horse, camel) and consequently accept that they may be killed without any control of the methods used or supervision of the culling. This is not consistent with what these countries demand from whaling and sealing nations.

During the past two years we have seen an ongoing campaign in many European countries against trade in seal products. Some countries have introduced legislation to this effect already, and others will follow suit. In July the Commission of the European Communities proposed regulation of the European Parliament and the Council concerning trade in seal product. This underlines that it is mandatory that we who live in the Arctic and depend on sustainable use of the living marine resources available to us, including the marine mammals, stick together and defend our right to sustainable harvest of the surplus of nature’s production and make a living of selling the products.

Our understanding of the proposed regulation in the EU of trade in seal products is that the European market will be open for seal products coming from Inuit hunt and from countries that have a respectable regulation of the seal hunt. It is therefore mandatory that the sealing nations in the North Atlantic strive to develop and implement the best possible hunting methods and acceptable control measures. In that way we can set the standards also for other legal hunting activities, also in countries that do not harvest marine mammals. I think we can be proud of our contribution to the amelioration of the animal welfare in hunting activities.

In this respect the work of the NAMMCO Committee on Hunting Methods is important. This Committee is setting the standards for the hunt of marine mammals, and these standards represent best practice. We will now ask this Committee to codify what is best practice in different kinds of sealing.

The NAMMCO Inspection and Observer Regime is the only control regime in force that covers marine mammals. We think it is important that we now give priority to update this regime and take into account experience gained and the new techniques that are developed.

Greenland has this year experienced that they did not get a quota of humpback whales 35

Report of the Council despite a scientific advice stating that the requested quota would be sustainable. Such an experience emphasises how important it is that the NAMMCO Scientific Committee starts to study general models for conservation and management of baleen whales.

Finally, I would like to reiterate that Norway continuously strive to develop a coherent and active conservation and management regime for marine mammals based on modern principles for the management of species, habitats and ecosystems.

I wish you all a fruitful meeting.

JAPAN – OPENING STATEMENT

The delegation of Japan expresses its appreciation for the hospitality and warm welcome we have received from the Government of Greenland. We are pleased to be attending the Seventeenth Meeting of the NAMMCO Council.

Indeed, we believe it appropriate that this meeting of the Council is being held in Greenland following the decision at the 60th Annual Meeting of the IWC that rejected the legitimate and scientifically supported request for humpback whales made by Denmark on behalf of Greenland. The continuing rejection of Japan’s request for a quota for its small-type coastal whaling communities by the IWC puts Japan and Greenland and our cultures in the same position as victims of an organization whose agenda and functioning has been overtaken by anti-whaling zealots. The people and the Government of Greenland have our heartfelt understanding and sympathy. Clearly, this emphasizes the need for strengthened regional management and/or a new global arrangement.

As we noted at your sixteenth meeting, Japan has little confidence that the current situation in IWC will improve; however, we are committed to work within the “Future of IWC” process initiated by Chairman Hogarth at least until June of next year. We believe that the understanding shared between Japan and NAMMCO member countries that the management of all marine living resources should be based on science, conformity with international law and respect for cultural diversity must constitute the basis of our participation in that process and must continue to be communicated to all members of the IWC. At the same time, we appreciate the participation of individuals from NAMMCO member countries in the working group that is developing a “safety net” which could assume the role of managing sustainable whaling in the absence of IWC functioning.

Cooperation between Japan and NAMMCO member countries is also important in other international fora where whaling and other marine and fisheries issues such as marine protected areas, improvement of regional fisheries management organizations and the management of fisheries in waters beyond national jurisdiction are currently being discussed. One such forum will be the IUCN World Conservation Congress which will be held in Barcelona from October 5 to 14. Whaling and many other fisheries issues are on the agenda for this Congress and we look forward to working 36

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 with you to try to ensure that decisions made are consistent with our shared understanding concerning the basis for managing marine living resources.

Finally, we would like once again to note that research on interactions between whales and fisheries and ecosystem modeling is a subject of shared interest between Japan and the members of NAMMCO. We remain convinced that collectively, our work on these issues will provide a strengthened scientific basis for improved management of all marine resources.

Thank you.

Report of the Council

Appendix 4 PRESENTATION TO THE 17TH ANNUAL MEETING OF NAMMCO BY PETER OLSEN, CHAIRMAN OF KNAPK – THE ORGANIZATION OF FISHERMEN AND HUNTERS IN GREENLAND

KNAPK expresses great pleasure in having the opportunity to address NAMMCO on the subject of “Sealing and Whaling in Greenland”. KNAPK has the following to say.

Concerning large whales KNAPK strongly demand that the processing of quotas on larger whales such as minke, fin, humpback and Greenland right whales, come under the auspices of NAMMCO. The reason for this demand arose from the recent IWC meeting in Chile during the month of June 2008, when Greenland was denied a catch of humpback whales, despite there being absolutely nothing to hinder this administratively and scientifically. Greenland was thus unjustly denied their catch.

Greenlandic hunters and fishermen cannot accept that the IWC can deny quotas for these whales. The KNAPK arranged a hearing and the general opinion was that Greenland should leave the IWC in favour of moving to NAMMCO with respect to questions of allocation of quotas for larger whales.

The decision to deny a catch of humpback whales by the IWC and especially the EU members was made clearly on the basis of emotions. This can hardly be justified.

KNAPK is of the opinion that a sustainable harvest of any living resources is a human right for the Inuit in the Arctic, and an unjustifiable denial is cultural discrimination against our way of life and is oppressive behaviour. This is a violation of human rights and KNAPK is ready for this case to be brought to the Human Rights Commission.

In recent years the members of KNAPK have observed that the numbers of humpback whales are drastically increasing, which has had a negative effect in that fishermen are experiencing problems with pound nets.

We urge the member nations of NAMMCO to discuss our suggestion that NAMMCO becomes authorized to allocate quotas for whales, and it is our hope that you will take this suggestion into consideration.

KNAPK also kindly urges the Minister for Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture, Mr Finn Karlsen, to work to establish allocation of quotas by NAMMCO through the Danish membership of the IWC. In this regard, we refer to Minister Finn Karlsen’s letter to the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Per Stig Møller, concerning establishing a working group.

KNAPK also urges member nations within NAMMCO to consider the topic of trade of whale products because this is an important topic and should be an item for discussion.

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

Concerning seals KNAPK also conducted a hearing among its members concerning seals, and we will present you with the results of that hearing.

Ringed seals The seal population in Central West Greenland between Sisimiut and Aasiaat is showing signs of change: their numbers are decreasing. The reason is climate change with changes in the pattern of the west ice. The population between Nuuk and Paamiut however, is reportedly showing signs of increasing in numbers, while the seal population in the Thule region does not seem to have undergone any changes.

Harp seals The number of harp seals is reportedly constantly on the rise in Western Greenland, especially in the Thule region, and it is evident that harp seals are breeding off the waters of Sisimiut.

Young harp seals Their numbers show evidence of increasing throughout Western Greenland and also that they have begun to breed in both Southern and Western Greenland. Young harp seals are staying in our waters until the month of December, where small and thin seals have been sighted.

All member organizations claim that there is an increasing number of seals in Greenlandic waters, especially harp seals. Breeding in Greenland waters is increasing.

The Greenlandic coast is vast and the dark time during winter often makes it difficult to conduct hunting. Catching seals with nets is conducted and is vital to hunters and their families. The seal is important in those areas where there are dogs, especially during the dark period. KNAPK would like to stress to NAMMCO that catching seals with nets is something the hunters cannot manage without. We therefore urge that this practice be allowed to continue unhindered.

In conclusion, KNAPK, on behalf of its members, wish NAMMCO fruitful discussions during this year’s Annual Meeting.

Report of the Council

Appendix 5 AUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR 2007

1. PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT (NOK) 2007 2006 Income Contributions 3,275,375 3,119,399 Interest received (net) 36,930 19,581 Book Sale 3 603 5,100 Employers Tax 182,369 119,266 Employees 579,266 532,289 Total Income 4,077,543 3,795,635

Expenditure Secretariat costs 3,512,027 3,176,666 Meetings 82,807 75,771 Scientific Committee 452,288 471,689 Observer Scheme 45,326 90,771 Conference 97,987 Total operating expenses 4,092,448 3,912,884

Operating result -14,905 -117,249

2. BALANCE SHEET 31 DECEMBER 2007 and 2006

Current assets Bank deposits 812,809 1,090,817 Outstanding claims 275,361 268,935 Total assets 1,088,170 1,359,752

Current liabilities Employers tax 58,995 38,737 Creditors 6,869 14,015 Other 297,148 566,937 Total liabilities 363,012 619,689

Equity Restricted equity (Relocation 200,000 fund*) Distributable equity (General 725,158 540,063 reserve) Total equity 725,158 740,063

Total liabilities and equity 1,088,170 1,359,752 * The relocation fund was dissolved in 2006.

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

Appendix 6 PRESS RELEASE 4 September 2008

Regional management of whales and seals in the North Atlantic is the way forward

Whaling and sealing nations in the North Atlantic, meeting in Sisimiut, Greenland this week, confirmed their commitment to ensuring the sustainable utilisation of marine mammals through science-based management decisions, stressing the vital importance whales and seals have as renewable resources for economies and cultures across the region.

Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Norway are members of NAMMCO – the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, an international body for cooperation on the conservation, management and study of whales, seals and walruses in the North Atlantic, which held its 17th annual meeting this week in Greenland. The Commission was established in 1992 through an agreement which provides the organisation with the international competence to make recommendations to member countries on conservation and management measures for all stocks and species of whales and seals in the region.

In the light of interest expressed by Greenland in resuming a catch of humpback whales in its waters, the Cetacean Management Committee of NAMMCO recommended that the total quota of humpbacks in West Greenland in 2009, including by-catches, should not exceed 10 animals. This recommendation was based on the 2006 advice from the NAMMCO Scientific Committee that such a level of catch is well within sustainable limits, and noting that the most recent abundance estimate for West Greenland humpbacks from 2007 is higher than the previous estimate from 2005.

New abundance estimates for a number of other key whale stocks in the North Atlantic, including fin whales, minke whales and pilot whales are also expected to be completed in the very near future. These will be based on data from the comprehensive Trans North Atlantic Cetacean Sightings Survey carried out in July 2007 and coordinated by the NAMMCO Scientific Committee. T-NASS was the largest contiguous cetacean sighting survey of its kind ever conducted, spanning the North Atlantic with participation by Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway and Russia, and in partnership with surveys carried out at the same time in the USA and in European waters. Regular monitoring of trends in the size of whale populations and their distribution through sightings surveys are an essential tool in the management of whale stocks.

The results of the T-NASS survey, as well as the Icelandic minke whale research programme, fisheries surveys and other studies point to significant changes in North Atlantic marine ecosystems in recent years. NAMMCO has therefore requested its Scientific Committee to examine the latest information on these changes and the 41

Report of the Council nature of predator-prey relations, and their implications for the management of all marine resources.

Sealing was also a major focus of this year’s NAMMCO meeting. The Commission has requested a special meeting of experts to assess best practices in different forms of seal hunting. The NAMMCO Committee on Hunting Methods brings veterinary experts and hunters together on a regular basis to review and exchange experiences on methods and equipment used in whaling, sealing and walrus hunting and to make recommendations for improvements.

Although NAMMCO does not deal formally with trade issues, moves within the European Union towards imposing import bans on seal products prompted all member countries at the NAMMCO meeting this week to express their serious concerns about the implications such trade barriers can have for the responsible management and sustainable use of abundant seals stocks across the North Atlantic, and the economies of the many communities dependent on these resources.

The health benefits of consuming whale and seal oil were the subject of a specialist workshop organised by NAMMCO and its report on the most recent research findings and further research requirements was presented to the meeting. The health risks associated with high levels of pollutants in some species of small whales and seals warrants continued monitoring. But the documented health benefits of a diet rich in marine fats need to be balanced against these risks. NAMMCO members stressed that stronger global efforts to reduce pollution in the marine environment were crucial to ensuring that the high quality food provided by marine mammals can continue to contribute to both local and global food security.

In summing up the meeting and concluding her term as Chair of the NAMMCO Council, Kate Sanderson from the Ministry of Fisheries and Natural Resources in the Faroe Islands, said: “For our nations in the North Atlantic, with a fundamental stake in conserving our marine resources and utilising them sustainably, it is clear that NAMMCO’s regional approach to cooperation on the management of whaling and sealing is a constructive and effective way to work, as is our regional approach to fisheries cooperation in the region. Hopefully this can also serve as a model for other regions around the world. “

Halvard P. Johansen of the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs in Norway was elected as the new chair of the NAMMCO Council.

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

1.2 REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUNTING METHODS

The Committee on Hunting Methods held a telephone meeting on 13 December 2007 from 14:00 to 15:00. Online were Egil Ole Øen, Chair and Hild Ynnesdal (Norway), Jústines Olsen, (Faroe Islands), Ole Heinrich (Greenland), Kristjan Loftsson (Iceland), and Christina Lockyer and Charlotte Winsnes from the Secretariat.

1. OPENING PROCEDURE

The Chair of the Committee, Egil Ole Øen, welcomed the Committee members to the meeting. The draft agenda was adopted with the addition of three items under Any Other Business. Charlotte Winsnes was acting as rapporteur.

2. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held in Copenhagen back to back with the Sub-Committee on Inspection and Observation on 13 and 14 February 2007. The meeting will be held at the Nordatlantensbrygge. Committee members were reminded to submit any updates on references and laws and regulations in member countries to the Secretariat.

3. WORKSHOP ON "HANDLING, PROCESSING AND UTILISATION OF HUNTED MARINE MAMMALS"

In March 2007, the Council approved the Committee's idea to organise a workshop (WS) with the working title “Handling, processing and utilisation of hunted marine mammals” with the following terms of reference: • To maximise the quality and quantity of products obtained from hunting through exchange of information regarding handling, processing and utilisation. • To make recommendations which are relevant to the workshop topic.

The Committee discussed the suggested timing of the WS (first half of September 2008) and agreed that it would be difficult to keep this date considering other meetings planned for the same period (NAMMCO 17 and Norwegian/Russian Sealing meeting in late August). It was agreed to postpone the WS until the fall of 2009. The meeting venue will be decided upon at a later stage.

The following points were raised and briefly discussed under this agenda: • Steering Committee: The Committee on Hunting Methods will plan and organise the WS in consultation with possible resource persons. • Meeting venue: in a member country or Copenhagen? • Content and programme: Should the WS include all marine mammals or just seals and whales? Food security authorities are important players and must be part of the WS. Should the WS include both theoretical and practical aspects? A very brief introduction to hunting methods with respect to how they are done in different places as these have bearing on the meat quality, etc. For each hunt, analyze and identify possible problems as seen from the various perspectives of 43

Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods

the hunters and the food authorities with the aim of solving them to maximise the market situation. Hunting of marine mammals results in production of food and related items and the revenue must be maximised and secured. • Participants: Hunters, experts, managers, market representatives, food security authorities from NAMMCO member countries, Japan, Canada, Chukotka, Alaska. • Finances: Must seek financial sponsorship outside of NAMMCO. Will approach NCM, ISI Greenland, NORA and similar.

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

4.1 New Hunting Knife in the Faroe Islands At its last meeting in January 2007 the Committee expressed its interest in receiving a report describing and evaluating the knife and the method of use as this would be beneficial to NAMMCO. It was recommended that such work be undertaken by the Faroe Islands.

Olsen reported that a document describing the results of the use of the new hunting knife for the killing of Pilot whales would be presented to the Committee for its evaluation in advance of its next meeting in February 2008.

4.2 Hunting methods for Bowhead whales At the last IWC meeting in 2007, Greenland was allocated a quota of 2 Bowhead whales in 2009 and would like to discuss conceivable methods for hunting of Bowhead whales in Greenland at the next meeting in the Hunting Committee. Greenland will supply a background document to be distributed in advance of the meeting.

4.3 World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) WSPA had approached NAMMCO with a request for various types of information and access to meeting documents related to the work of the HM Committee. The Secretariat had drafted a response that was presented to the Committee for its comments.

5. APPROVAL OF THE REPORT

The report was approved by correspondence on 11 January 2008.

------REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUNTING METHODS

The Committee on Hunting Methods met on 13 February 2008 from 9:30 to 17:30 in the Faroe Islands Representation in Copenhagen. Present were Egil Ole Øen, Chair and Hild Ynnesdal (Norway), Jústines Olsen, (Faroe Islands), Ole Heinrich and Amalie Jessen (Greenland) (Jessen attended agenda items 5 to 7), Kristjan Loftsson (Iceland), and Christina Lockyer, Mario Aquarone and Charlotte Winsnes from the Secretariat. 44

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

1. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, ADOPTION OF AGENDA AND APPOINTMENT OF RAPPORTEUR

The Chair of the Committee, Egil Ole Øen, welcomed the Committee members to the meeting. The agenda was adopted with the addition of item 7.1 "A request from the Heads of Delegation meeting regarding a possible follow-up on best practises in sealing. Charlotte Winsnes acted as rapporteur.

2. UPDATES ON HUNTING METHODS IN MEMBER COUNTRIES

The lists of references on hunting methods (NAMMCO/HM-February 2008-2), and laws and regulations in member countries (NAMMCO/HM-February 2008-3) were updated (see Appendices 1 and 2 of this report).

Faroe Islands Olsen (Faroe Islands) reported that there had been one addition to the regulations for pilot whale hunting in the Faroe Islands, Executive Order No. 87 of 20 September 2007 on protections of whales. The idea is to prevent whales which have or will be tagged with sattelite transmitters to be harvested.

Greenland Heinrich (Greenland) reported that there have been reduced sightings of minke whales in East Greenland. As a consequence the hunters have requested the Home Rule Government to give permission to catch fin whales as they are sighted frequently. This request has so far been denied due to lack of adequate hunting equipment.

Iceland Loftsson (Iceland) had no new information to report under this item. Norway Ynnesdal (Norway) noted that in Norway quota regulations on seal and whale hunting are revised every year, and that the regulations for 2008 are still under preparation.

The “Blue Box” system - the new electronic monitoring system for electronic surveillance of the Norwegian minke whaling (for description see the 2005 Committee report) seems to be well functioning. An evaluation of the system will be undertaken after the 2008 season at which time the system has been operative for three seasons.

3. WORKSHOP ON "HANDLING, PROCESSING AND UTILISATION OF HUNTED MARINE MAMMALS"

Prior to the meeting the Chair had asked Jústines Olsen to prepare some points for discussion (appendix 3). Also the report from the last meeting was presented as background documentation.

The Committee agreed on the following:

Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods

 The Workshop will be held in Sandefjord, Norway at Hotel Atlantic in week 45 (2 – 6 November) or 46 (9 – 13 November) in 2009. This was also the venue for the 2nd workshop on ballistics. Sandefjord is fairly easy to reach (Torp airport and Gardemoen + train). Various artefacts that might be useful to exhibit may be found at the Whaling museum and also at the hotel itself which has a renowned display of hunting objects.  The WS will be a three day event with focus on whales and seals and a mixture of lectures and discussions. Day 1: - General introduction – common aspects for all types of hunt, how are hunting conducted – generally what kind of impact the various hunts have on meat and skin quality - cultural differences in treatments. Important to emphasis that this overview of hunting methods should only take note of the impact a certain method has on the product. - how and where to slaughter the animal from a hygienically point of view Day 2: Species specific sessions running parallel or in sequence: - Whales; large and small - Seals; young or grown up Day 3: Conclusions and Recommendations  Olsen's programme input to be a possible introduction lecture at the WS  Heinrich mentioned that Greenland could nominate a person who could talk about product development.  If possible it would be very good to have visual documentation on topics such as treatment of meat from seals and whales. Some raised the issue that power point presentations often took priority to filming because of the time control aspect.  The Steering Committee for the WS will be the Hunting Committee. In addition Glenn Williams from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. will be asked to participate in the planning and implementation of the WS, as he did in the last two workshops.  The WS will be open as in previous workshops. Special invitations will be sent to Chukotka and Alaska, and in general all participants from earlier meetings will be notified. The Secretariat will prepare a list of possible participants that will be circulated to the Committee for comments.  The WS has been allocated NOK 100 000 from NAMMCO but will need to seek external funding.  The next meeting in the Steering Committee will be a telephone meeting in April, and it is envisaged that a second telephone meeting will be held before the summer holidays.  The Chair in cooperation with the Secretariat will prepare a more detailed programme for discussion prior to the next telephone meeting.

4. NEW HUNTING EQUIPMENT IN THE FAROES ISLANDS

At its January 2007 the Committee expressed its interest in receiving a report describing and evaluating the new "knife" and the method used in the Faroes Islands. 46

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

Document HM-February/2008-4 " Development and testing of new whale killing equipment in Faroese whaling" had been prepared by Olsen for consideration by the Committee.

The Committee congratulated and commended Olsen for his successful work on developing this new tool. They recommended that more work be done with respect to documentation on method and use before a possible publication. It was noted that although the new killing equipment had been developed from the traditional knife it is no longer a knife but a spinal lance. It was generally thought that the spinal lance represents an improvement with respect to killing time and suffering.

5. BOWHEAD WHALES FUTURE

At the last IWC meeting in 2007, Greenland was allocated a quota of 2 bowhead whales. The bowhead was put under total protection in 1938 thus Greenland has no up to date experience on hunting of this species. To ensure the best possible hunt Greenland has sent a request for advice to Alaska where they do hunt the bowheads, and in addition asked for NAMMCO's input through the Committee on Hunting Methods on conceivable methods for the hunting of bowhead whales.

Jessen distributed a draft project outline for consideration and information. The project outline is intended for the next IWC and gives a thorough description of background, biology, legal frame in the past, today and in the future (laws and regulations), hunting methods, utilisation, health aspects and also references to the bowhead recovery program in Nunavut and Alaska.

Greenland's intention is to use a harpoon canon with a fin whale grenade. The Committee pointed out that there are two main target areas on the bowhead whale: neck and thorax?, and that one should always shoot on the side and never from behind the animal. It was recommended to initiate i. e. a 3-year trial period in which the hunting methods could be developed. Furthermore it was agreed that it would be important to identify a small number of vessels (2 – 3) with a license to hunt the quota under monitored and controlled circumstances and thus gain the necessary experience to adapt the best possible hunting methods.

The Committee agreed to review the draft plan for hunt when this was ready.

6. NEXT MEETING

The next ordinary meeting will be held in Copenhagen in January/February 2009.

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

7.1 Evaluation of best practices in sealing The Heads of Delegation had forwarded a request to the Committee to identify main issues for a possible Workshop on best practices in sealing. The work should build upon the knowledge and experiences already gathered in previous workshops 47

Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods organized by the Committee and possible new developments emerging since the last workshop held in 2006.

The Committee was also asked to consider whether this should be an open forum or an expert meeting with attendance by invitation only. Tentatively NOK 50 000 were set aside for this work.

The Committee agreed to suggest focusing the work on best applicable methods, i.e. to critically assess the various hunting methods within their context. Given the legal framework is the preferred hunting method and equipment the best possible practice in a particular setting? Consideration should also be given to control and monitoring aspects as well as training of the hunters. The work should end up with recommendations on best practices based on state of the art in sealing today.

The Committee further recommends that the work be undertaken by a smaller more focused working group rather than through a workshop. Participation would be by invitation only and would encompass hunters and experts from all NAMMCO member counties. In addition invitations should be sent to sealing nations like Sweden, Finland and Canada.

The first step would be for the NAMMCO Secretariat to collect all relevant information from the previous workshops and draft a summary report to be used as a working document. Manuals and reports from other sealing counties will also be included.

Tentatively a first meeting of the Working Group was scheduled in connection with NAMMCO 17 in September 2008.

8. APPROVAL OF THE REPORT

The report was approved through correspondence on 31 March 2008.

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

Appendix 1 LIST OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN NAMMCO MEMBER COUNTRIES (Updated September 2008)

FAROE ISLANDS

Parliamentary Act No 57 of 5 June 1984 on whale hunting No 54 of 20 May 1996 amending Parliamentary Act on whale hunting No 9 of 14 March 1985 on the protection of animals, as last amended by Parliamentary Act No 60 of 30 May 1990 No 43 of 22 May 1969 on weapons etc. as amended by Parliamentary Act No 54 of 12 May 1980 No 128 of 25 October 1988 on hare hunting

Executive order No 57 of 12 September 1969 on weapons etc. No 19 of 1 March 1996 on exemption from protection of whales No 126 of 23 June 1997 on protection of whales No 46 of 8 April 1998 on pilot whaling No 107 of 21 November 1989 on authorisation of whaling bays, as amended by executive order No 64 of 11 May 1992, executive order No 127 of 27 August 1992, executive order No 141 of 23 June 1993, executive order No 34 of 24 March 1994 and executive order No 94 of 31 May 2001 No 166 of 27 August 1993 on provisional authorisation of whaling bays No 118 of 23 October1996 on provisional authorisation of whaling bays No 72 of 17 May 2000 on provisional authorisation of whaling bays No. 87 of 20 September 2007 on protections of whales

GREENLAND

Greenland Home Rule Act No 12 of 29 October 1999 on hunting No 11 of 12 November 2001 on revisions to Greenland Home Rule Act No 12 of 29 October 1999 on hunting No 9 of 15 April 2003 on revisions to Greenland Home Rule Act No 12 of 29 October 1999 on hunting No 25 of 18 December 2003 on animal welfare No 29 of 18 December 2003 on nature protection Executive Order No 26 of 24 October 1997 on extraordinary check and approval of harpoon canons No 13 of 3 April 1998 on reporting from hunting and strike of large whales 49

Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods

No 22 of 19 August 2002 on trophy-hunting and fishing No 20 of 27 November 2003 on hunting licenses for full time hunters No 21 of 28 November 2003 on hunting licenses for part- time and/or sport hunters No 2 of 12 February 2004 on protection and hunting of beluga and narwhal No 10 of 13 April 2005 on hunting of large whales No 21 of 22 September 2005 on protection and hunt of polar bears No 20 of 27 October 2006 on protection and hunting of walrus

Catch registration form (1993)

Greenland Parliament Regulations of 31 August 1959, ratified on 12 February 1960 on the protection of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina)

ICELAND

Whaling Act no 26,May 3, 1949 Regulation no 163, May 30, 1973 on whaling Regulation no 304, May 9, 1983 on amendments to Regulation No 163 of May 30, 1973 on whaling Regulation no 239, May 10, 1984 on amendments to Regulation No 163 of May 30, 1973 on whaling (cf. Regulation No 304/1983) Agreement no 9 of 26. June 1991 between Iceland and Spain on an international observer scheme for land-based whaling stations in the North Atlantic area.

NORWAY

Act of 20 December 1974 No 73 Concerning the Welfare of Animals Act of 29 May 1981 Relating to Wildlife and Wildlife Habitats (the Wildlife act) Act of 3 June 1983 No 40 Relating to Seawater Fisheries, etc. Act of 27 March 1999 No 15 Relating to the Right to Participate in Fisheries and Hunting (Participants act)

Executive Orders from the Department of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs and the Directorate of Fisheries:

J-34-2003, 11.3.2003 Regulation on the practice of hunting seals in the West and East Ice J-58-2006, 26.2.2006 Regulation on participation and governing the hunt of seals in the West Ice and the East Ice in 2006

Instruction of 9 March 2006 for the inspection of seal hunt in 2006 50

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

J-74-2000, 31.3.2000 Regulation of on the practice of hunting minke whales. J-119-2006, 27.3.2006 Regulation on maximum quotas for hunting minke whales in 2006 Regulation on governing the hunt of minke whales in 2006 J-29-2007, 23.1.2007 Regulation on participation in the hunt of minke whales in 2007

Instructions of 5 April 2005 for inspectors during the minke whale hunt in 2005.

Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods

Appendix 2 LIST OF REFERENCES ON HUNTING METHODS (Updated September 2008)

FAROE ISLANDS

Olsen, J. 2006. Hunting activities in the Faroe Islands: howuser knowledge is gartered, kept and transmitted among pilot whale hunters in the Faroe Islands. In: Hovelsrud, G.K. and Winsnes, C. (eds). 2006. Users Knowledge. Proceedings from Conference, Reykjavík January 2003: 38-43. Anonymous 1993. Comments from Denmark on IWC44/HKW/9, "Humane Killing Aspects of the Pilot Whale Hunt in the Faroe Islands". IWC Document IWC/45/HK2. Bloch, D., Desportes, G., Zachariassen, M. and Christiansen, I.: “The Northern Bottlenose Whale in the Faroe Islands, 1584-1993.” J. Zool., Lond.(1996) 239, 123-140 Faroese Home Government 1988. Response from the Danish Government on the Methods used in the Faroese Pilot Whale Hunt, submitted to IWC/40. Hoydal, K. 1986. Recent Changes to Faroese Legislation on Whaling. IWC Document IWC/38/HKW. www.hval.djoralaeknin.com

GREENLAND

Born, E.W. 2005. The Walrus in Greenland. Ilinniusiorfik, ISBN 87-7975-221-7. Pp. 80 (Available in Danish and Greenlandic language versions) Caulfield, R. A. 1991. Qeqartarsuarmi arfanniarneq: Greenland Inuit Whaling in Qeqartarsuaq Kommune, West Greenland. IWC Document TC/43/AS4. Caulfield, R.A. 2002. Whaling and Sustainability in Greenland. IWC Document IWC/54/AS4. Dahl, J. 1989. The Integrative and Cultural Role of Hunting and Subsistence in Greenland, Inuit Studies, 13(1): 23-42. Greenland Home Rule 1987. Hunting Methods including the Cold/Warm Harpoon Question, IWC Document TC/39/AS2. Greenland Home Rule. 1988. Arfanniariaaserput - Our Way of Whaling Greenland Home Rule 1988. Denmark's Answers to the Remaining Questions stated in Document IWC/39/19 "Report of the Humane Killing Working Group", Annex 4. IWC Document TC/40/HK3. Greenland Home Rule 1988. Implementation of the Detonating Grenade Harpoon in Greenland's Whaling on an Experimental Basis. IWC Document TC/40/HK4. Greenland Home Rule 1989. Introduction of the Detonating Grenade Harpoon in Greenland Whaling on an Experimental basis. IWC Document TC/41/HK2. Greenland Home Rule 1990. Greenland Licenses for Hunting Minke Whales with Rifles. IWC Document TC/42/HK2. Greenland Home Rule 1990. Introduction of the Detonating Grenade Harpoon in Greenland on an Experimental Basis. IWC Document TC/42/HK1.

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Greenland Home Rule 1991. Designation of Types of Rifles in Greenland. IWC Document TC/43/AS1. Greenland Home Rule 1991. Introduction of the Detonating Grenade Harpoon in Greenland, 1991. IWC Document TC/43/HK2. Greenland Home Rule 1992. Introduction of the Detonating Grenade Harpoon in Greenland, 1992. IWC Document TC/44/HK1. Greenland Home Rule 1993. Greenland Action Plan on Whale Hunting Methods, 1992. IWC Document TC/45/HK3. Greenland Home Rule 1994. Greenland Action Plan on Whale Hunting Methods. IWC Document IWC/46/AS3. Greenland Home Rule 1995. Comments regarding the Terms of Reference to the second Workshop on Whale Killing Methods. - Greenland Action Plan on Whale Hunting Methods. IWC Document IWC/47/WK4 rev. Greenland Home Rule 1997. New Technologies, New Traditions: Recent Developments in Greenlandic Whaling. IWC Document IWC/49/AS3. Greenland Home Rule 1999. Efficiency in the Greenlandic Hunt of Minke and Fin whales, 1990-1998. IWC Document IWC/51/WK8. Greenland Home Rule 1999. Report on improving in ASW in Greenland. IWC Document IWC/51/WK7. Greenland Home Rule 1999. Status for Greenland Action Plan on Whale Killing Methods. 1999. IWC Document IWC/51/WK6. Greenland Home Rule 2000. A note regarding information encouraged in IWC- resolution 51/44. IWC Document IWC/52/WKM & AWI2. Greenland Home Rule 2000. Report on improvings in ASW in Greenland. IWC Document IWC/52/WKM & AWI4. Greenland Home Rule 2000. Status for Greenland Action Plan on Whale Hunting Methods. IWC Document IWC/52/WKM & AWI3. Greenland Home Rule 2001. A note regarding information encouraged in IWC-resolution 51/44I. IWC Document IWC/53/WKM & AWI1. Greenland Home Rule 2001. Report on improvements in ASW in Greenland. IWC Document IWC/53/WKM & AWI3. Greenland Home Rule 2001. Status for Greenland Action Plan on Whale Hunting Methods. IWC Document IWC/53/WKM & AWI2. Greenland Home Rule 2002. A note regarding information encouraged in IWC- resolution 1999. IWC Document IWC/54/WKM & AWI2. Greenland Home Rule 2002. Report on improvements in ASW in Greenland. IWC Document IWC/54/WKM & AWI3. Greenland Home Rule 2002. Status for Greenland Action Plan on Whale Hunting Methods, 2001. IWC Document IWC/54/WKM & AWI5. Greenland Home Rule 2003. A note regarding information encouraged in IWC-resolution 1999. IWC Document IWC/55/WK9. Greenland Home Rule 2003. Report on improvements in ASW in Greenland. IWC Document IWC/55/WK10. Greenland Home Rule 2003. Status for Greenland Action Plan on Whale Hunting Methods, 2002. IWC Document IWC/55/WK11. Greenland Home Rule 2003. Times to death in the Greelandic minke and fin whale hunt in 2002. IWC Document IWC/55/WK12 rev. 53

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Greenland Home Rule 2004. A note regarding information encouraged in IWC-resolution 1999. IWC Document IWC/56/7. Greenland Home Rule 2004. Report on improvements in ASW in Greenland. IWC Document IWC/56/6. Greenland Home Rule 2004. Status for Greenland Action Plan on Whale Hunting Methods, 2003. IWC Document IWC/56/8. Greenland Home Rule 2004. Summary of activites related to the Action Plan on Whale Killing Methods. IWC Document IWC/56/5. Greenland Home Rule 2005. A note regarding information encouraged in IWC-resolution 1999. IWC Document IWC/57/WKM & AWI6. Greenland Home Rule 2005. Report on improvements in ASW in Greenland. IWC Document IWC/57/WKM & AW7. Greenland Home Rule 2005. Status for Greenland Action Plan on Whale Hunting Methods, 2004. IWC Document IWC/57/WKM & AW8. Greenland Home Rule 2006. A note regarding information encouraged in IWC-resolution 1999, for the Greenland catch of 2005. IWC Document IWC/58/WKM & AWI3. Greenland Home Rule 2006. Report on improvements in ASW in Greenland. IWC Document IWC/58/WKM & AWI4. Greenland Home Rule 2006. Status for Greenland Action Plan on Whale Hunting Methods. IWC Document IWC/58/ WKM & AWI5.. Greenland Home Rule 2006. Summary of activites related to the Action Plan on Whale Killing Methods. IWC Document IWC/58/WKM & AWI6. Greenland Home Rule Government 2006. Whale killing methods and associated welfare issues in Greenland. IWC Document IWC/58/WKM & AWI7. Happynook, K. 2004. Whaling around the world. World Council of Whalers. ISBN 0- 9733760-0-7 Pp.74 (Greenland in p. 25 – 34) Jessen, A. 1992. Modern Inuit Whaling in Greenland. Josefsen, E, Cutter 1990. Hunting of Minke Whale in Qaqortoq (Greenland): Case Study. IWC Document TC/42/SEST5. Larsen, S. E. and Hansen, K. G. 1990. Inuit and Whales at Sarfaq (Greenland): Case Study. IWC Document TC/42/SEST4. Petersen, R. 1987. Communal Aspects of Preparation for Whaling, of the Hunt Itself and of the Ensuing Products. Rosing, J. 1986. Havets Enhjørning. Højbjerg Wormianon. Silis, I. 1997. Hvalernes Fjord. Atuakkiorfik, ISBN 87 558 1250 3. Pp. 88 Stevenson, M.. G., Madsen A. and Maloney E., editors. 1997. The Anthropology of Community-Based Whaling in Greenland, A Collection of Papers Submitted to the International Whaling Commission. Studies in Whaling No 4, Occasional Publication No 42, Canadian Cicumpolar Institute, University of Alberta, Canada Ting, H. 1990. Encounters with wildlife in Greenland. Atuakkiorfik. ISBN 87 558 0547 7. Pp. 61 Video – 1998. Hvalfangst i Grønland. Video – 1989. Introduktion om hvalgranat i Greenland. (WWC) World Council of Whalers. 1998. Whaling and Whale Use around the World – Greenland. General Assembly Report: p. 21. 54

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ICELAND

Lambertsen, Richard H. and Moore, Michael J. 1983. Behavioral and post mortem observations on fin whales killed with explosive harpoons with preliminary conclusions concerning killing efficiency: report to the International Whaling Commission from the Icelandic Whales research laboratory. IWC Document TC/36/HK3. Rowsell, Harry C. 1979. Assessment of harpooning as a humane killing method in whales: A report to the International Whaling Commission. Øen, Egil Ole 1987. Progress Report on Penthrite as Detonating Charge for 90 mm Harpoons. IWC Document TC/39/HK4.

NORWAY

Aschfalk A, Folkow L, Rud H. and Denzin N. 2001. Seroprevalence to Salmonella spp. in harp seals in the Greenland Sea, determined by ELISA. 24th Congress of the German Veterinary Society in Bad Nauheim, 4-7 April 2001, pp. 519-523. Aschfalk A, Bacciarini LN 2002. Carcinoid in the lung of a hooded seal (Cystophora cristata). Veterinary Record 151(25): 770-772. Aschfalk A. and Müller W. 2001. Clostridium perfringens toxin types in hooded seals in the Greenland Sea, determined by PCR and ELISA. Journal of Veterinary Medicine B; 48, 765-769.Aschfalk A, Folkow L, Rud H. and Denzin N. 2002. Apparent seroprevalence to Salmonella spp. in harp seals in the Greenland Sea determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Veterinary Research Communications. Veterinary Research Communication 26 (7): 523-530. Knudsen S. K. 2003. Criteria of death in whales. A comparative review. IWC Document IWC/55/WK. Knudsen S. K. 2004. Assessment of insensibility and death in hunted whales. A study of trauma and its consequences caused by the currently used weapon and ammunition in the Norwegian hunt for minke whales, with special emphasis on the central nervous system. Thesis for the degree of Doctor Medicinae Veterinariae. The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Tromsø. ISBN 82-7725-096-7. Knudsen S. K. 2005. A review of the criteria of insensibility and death in hunted whales compared to other species. The Veterinary Journal. In press. Knudsen S. K., Mørk S. and Øen E. O. 1999. A study on methods to assess time to unconsciousness or death in minke whale after penthrite grenade detonation. IWC Document IWC/51/WK12. Knudsen S. K., Mørk S. and Øen E. O. 2002. A novel method for in situ fixation of whale brains. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 120: 35-44 Knudsen S. K., Rud H. J. and Øen E.O. 1999. The position of the brain in the minke whale in relation to external features. IWC Document IWC/51/WK13. Knudsen S. K. and Øen EO. 2003. Blast-induced neurotrauma in whales. Neuroscience Research 46(3):265-386. O’Hara T.M., Albert T.F., Øen E.O., Philo L.M., George J.C. and Ingling A.L. 1999. The role of Eskimo hunters, veterinarians, and other biologists in improving the

Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods

humane aspects of the subsistence harvest of bowhead whales. JAVMA, 214, 1193-1198. Skoglund, K. 1997. Documentary film on Norwegian sealing. Polarfangst. Tryland M. and Brun E. 2001. Serum chemistry of the minke whale from the northeastern Atlantic. Journal of Wildlife Diseases; 37(2): 332-341. Tryland M., and Godfroid J. 2001. Sjøpattedyr er eksponert for bakterier tilhørende genus Brucella. Norsk Veterinærtidsskrift; 113 (3): 145-149. Tryland M., Sørensen K. K. and Godfroid J. 2003. High prevalence of Brucella pinnipediae in tissues from apparently healthy Greenland Sea hooded seals (Cystophora cristata). [abstract/poster]. Brucellosis 2003 International Research Conference (56th Brucellosis Research Conference), 15-17 September, 2003; Pamplona, Spain. P61, pp. 123-124. Tryland M., Thoresen S. I., Lydersen C. and Kovacs K. 2003. Serum chemistry profiles from free-ranging and apparently healthy Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) from Svalbard. [abstract/poster]. 15th Biennal Conference on the biology of marine mammals, 14 – 19 December 2003; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. p. 166. Øen E. O. 1982. Progress Report on Studies to increase the Efficiency of Killing Methods in Norwegian Small-Type Whaling. IWC Document SC/34/010. Øen E. O. 1983. Electrical Whaling - A Review. Nord. Vet.-Med. 35: 319-323. Øen E. O. 1983. Progress report on research to develop more humane killing methods in Norwegian whaling. IWC Document TC/35/HK1. Øen E. O. 1983. Killing Times of Minke Whales in the Norwegian Coastal Whaling in the 1981 and 1982 Seasons. Nord. Vet.-Med. 35, 314-318. Øen E. O. 1984. Progress report on research in 1983-84 to develop more humane killing methods in Norwegian whaling. IWC Document TC/36/HK1. Øen E. O. 1984. The Use of Drugs in Whaling. IWC Document TC/36/HK2. Øen E. O. 1985. Progress report on research in 1984-85 to develop more humane killing methods in Norwegian whaling. IWC Document IWC/37/19. Øen E. O. 1989. Chemical Immobilization and Marking of Minke Whales. A Report of Field Trials in 1988. IWC Document SC/41/NHMi10. Øen E.O. 1990. A new VHF-Transmitter for Minke Whales. IWC Document SC/42/NHMi17. Øen E. O. 1990. A Review of Attachment Techniques for Radio Transmitters to Whales. In: Vestergaard, E. (ed.); North Atlantic Studies - Whaling Communitie, Vol. 2, Nos 1 & 2, Aarhus Universitet, 82-84. Øen E. O. 1990. Trials of Chemical Immobilization of Minke Whales with Etorphine Hydrochloride in 1989. IWC Document SC/42/NHMi16. Øen E. O. 1992. A new Penthrite Grenade for the Subsistence Hunt of Bowhead Whales by Alaskan Eskimoes. Developmental Work and Field Trials in 1988. IWC Document IWC/44/HKW6. Øen E. O. 1992. The Norwegian Hunt of Minke Whales: A Norwegian Penthrite Grenade for Minke Whaling. Description of the Model and Developmental Work. IWC Document IWC/44/HKW4. Øen E. O. 1992. The Norwegian Hunt of Minke Whales: Description and Analysis of the Minke Whale Hunt with Cold Harpoons in the 1981, 1982 and 1983 Seasons. IWC Document IWC/44/HKW2. 56

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Øen E. O. 1992. The Norwegian Hunt of Minke Whales: Hunting of Minke Whales with Modified Cold Harpoons in 1983. IWC Document IWC/44/HKW1. Øen E. O. 1992. The Norwegian Hunt of Minke Whales: Hunting Trials using 20mm High-Velocity Projectiles in 1982. IWC Document IWC/44/HKW3. Øen E. O. 1992. Norwegian Penthrite Grenade for Minke Whales: Hunting Trials with Prototypes of Penthrite Grenades in 1984 and Results from the 1985 and 1986 Seasons. IWC Document IWC/44/HKW5. Øen E. O. 1993. Avliving av strandet Hval. Nor. Vet. Tidsskr. 105, p. 748-749. Øen E. O. 1993. Avliving av standet Hval. Nor. Vet. Tidsskr. 105, p. 845-846. Øen E. O. 1993. Hunting Methods for Minke Whales in Norway. Report from the 1992 Scientific Catch. IWC Document IWC/45/HK 1. Øen E. O. 1993. Norwegian Penthrite Grenade for Minke Whales: Results from the 1992 Season. Øen E. O. 1995. A New Penthrite Grenade Compared to the Traditional Black Powder Grenade: Effectiveness in the Alaskan Eskimo’s Hunt for Bowhead Whales. Arctic. 48, No 2:177-185. Øen E. O. 1995. A Norwegian Penthrite Grenade for Minke Whales: Hunting Trials with Prototypes and Results from the Hunt in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Acta vet. scan. 36: 111-121. Øen E. O. 1995. Description and Analysis of the use of Cold Harpoons in the Norwegian Minke Whale Hunt in the 1981, 1982 and 1983 Hunting Seasons. Acta vet. scan. 36: 103-110. 1995. Øen E. O. 1995. High Velocity Projectiles for Killing Whales. Hunting Trials using 20 mm High Velocity Projectiles for Minke Whales in 1982. Acta vet. scan. 36: 153-156. Øen E. O. 1995. Killing Methods for Minke and Bowhead Whales, Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor Medicinae Veterinariae. Øen E. O. 1996. Avlivingsmetoder for store pattedyr. En dyrevernmessig vurdering av de vanligste former for avliving ved eutanasi, slakting, jakt og fangst i Europa. Nor. Vet. Tidsskr. 108, p. 313-321. Øen E. O. 1997. Norwegian minke whaling 1996. Rep. IWC Document. Øen E. O. 1998. Norwegian minke whaling 1997. IWC Document. Øen E.O. 1999. Improvements in hunting and killing methods for minke whales in Norway. IWC Document IWC/51/WK11. Øen E.O. 2000. Norwegian minke whaling 1999. IWC Document IWC/WKM & AWI1. Øen E. O. 2001. Hunting of whales in Norway in historical perspective. Proceedings of the 32nd International Congress on the History of Veterinary Medicine, 15-18 August, Oslo. Øen, E. O. 2001. Norwegian minke whaling in 2000. IWC Document IWC/53/WK. Øen, E. O. 2002. Norwegian minke whaling in 2001. IWC Document IWC/54/WKM & AWI6. Øen E. O. 2003. Improvements in hunting and killling methods for minke whales in Norway 1981-2003. IWC Document IWC/55/WK17. Øen E. O. and Knudsen S. K. 2003. Euthanasia of whales: Wounding effect of rifle calibre .375 and .458 round nosed full metal jacketed bullets on minke whale central nervous system. IWC Document IWC/55/WK.

Report of the Committee on Hunting Methods

Øen E.O. and Mørk S. 1999. Observations of agonal movements, injuries and pathological changes in minke whales after intra-body detonation of penthrite. IWC Document IWC/51/WK10. Øen E.O. and Walløe L. 1999. Norwegian minke whaling 1996, 1997 and 1998. Whaling activities, inspection routines, new developments and research 1996-99. IWC Document IWC/51/WK9.

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1.3 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON INSPECTION AND OBSERVATION

The Committee on Inspection and Observation met in the Office of the Faroe Islands representation in Copenhagen, 14 February 2008 from 09:00 – 13:00. Present were Ole Heinrich, Chair (Greenland), Egil Ole Øen and Hild Ynnesdal (Norway), Jústines Olsen (Faroe Islands), Kristjan Loftsson (Iceland), Christina Lockyer, Mario Acquarone and Charlotte Winsnes from the Secretariat.

1. OPENING PROCEDURE

The Chair of the Committee, Ole Heinrich, welcomed the Committee members to the meeting. The draft agenda was adopted and Charlotte Winsnes was appointed as rapporteur.

2. TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE COMMITTEE

At its last meeting the Council decided that the existing Sub-Committee should now report directly to Council rather than the Management Committee; it would therefore no longer be a Sub-Committee but rather a self-standing one. Document NAMMCO/I&O-February/2008-2 containing the revised terms of reference for the former Sub-Committee was presented to the Committee. In addition to the editorial changes with respect to the reporting body the text of paragraph 3 had also been revised by deleting the word annually to accommodate those years when the convening of the committee is not required or called for. The Committee took note of the revisions.

3. REPORT FROM THE 2007 SEASON

Document NAMMCO/I&O-February/2008-3 contained the report from the Secretariat of the Observation Season 2007. The document was presented as an information item and the Committee was not asked to revise or approve the report.

4. REVISION OF THE TEXT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE INSPECTION AND OBSERVATION SCHEME

The Observation Scheme has been operative since 1998. Before 2002 only land based observations were carried out. However the tendency during the recent years has been to have observers out at sea. Being out at sea requires other kinds of safety measures than when operating on shore. Furthermore Norway has developed and implemented a new automatic monitoring system for its whale hunt operations. The Provisions do not take sufficient account of this new situation, and Council had at its last meeting recommended that amendments to the provisions be made to:

- integrate requirements for observer training to ensure observer safety onboard vessels, and 59

Report of the Committee on Inspection and Observation

- take account of recent technological developments in automated monitoring in the Norwegian whale hunt.

The Committee was presented with a revised text of the Provisions that had incorporated the editorial changes with respect to the reporting body (see agenda item 3 above). The Secretariat also presented an overview of some of the safety requirements for out at sea operations in member countries.

It was generally agreed that it was important to differentiate between the observer and the ship crew. The observer is more akin to passengers on a boat and hence he/she must have information/knowledge on how to take care of themselves in an emergency situation i.e. where the survival suits are, how to get dressed, how they work, where to evacuate, emergency exits, life boats, etc.

During the discussions under this agenda item it was clear that the Committee needed more time to suggest amendments with respect to safety requirements and also the automated monitoring system. It was generally acknowledged that this represented a good opportunity to revisit the text of the Provisions with respect to necessary adjustments it being more that a decade since it was first adopted. The Provisions Section A, B, C and Appendix 1 were adopted in 1996 and Appendix 2, Guidelines to Section B was adopted in 1997 with a minor amendment in 1999. As a starting point Appendix 1 and section C will be revised by correspondence before the next Council meeting. In addition new issues had surfaced (see agenda item 5.1 below) and it was recommended to revisit the standard reporting forms that the observers use in order to see if there were possibilities for improvements.

4. EXPERIENCES WITH USING AUTOMATED MONITORING OF WHALE HUNTING IN NORWAY

The Committee had been asked to provide a report to the next Council meeting on experiences in using automated monitoring in whale hunting in Norway. However the Committee choose to postpone one year in anticipation of the announced evaluation of the system that Norway will carry out after the 2008 season.

5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

5.1 Training of observers In connection with discussion under agenda item 4. above the Committee recommended that the Secretariat establish a more formalised system of guidance and preparation of observer candidates prior to their assignment. The system is functioning today but it was thought that a more formalised frame would be beneficial for all concerned. Based on the guidelines to Section B of the Observer Scheme the Secretariat should formalise the training both with respect to the general information supplied by the Secretariat and the activity-specific preparation that are carried out by the national authorities with regards to interpretation of laws and regulations and duties of national inspectors.

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6. ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

The final report of the meeting was approved by correspondence on 7 March 2008.

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Appendix 1 - TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE COMMITTEE ON INSPECTION AND OBSERVATION

1. The Committee shall function as a standing review body to monitor the implementation of the Observation Scheme under the Joint NAMMCO Control Scheme and provide recommendations for improvements.

2. The Committee shall upon request from the Secretariat provide advice on the Observation Scheme.

3. The Committee shall report to the Council.

4. The Financial aspects of the Observation Scheme shall be dealt with by the NAMMCO Finance and Administration Committee.

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

SECTION 2 - MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES

2.1 Report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans ...... 65

2.2 Report of the Management Committee for Seals and Walruses ...... 91

Appendix 1 Agenda ...... 99 Appendix 2 List of Documents ...... 100 Appendix 3 Recommendations to member countries ...... 101

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008

2.1 REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR CETACEANS 3-4 September 2008, Sisimiut, Greenland

1. CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS

The Chair of the Management Committee, Halvard P. Johansen, welcomed delegations and observers to the meeting. Participants to the meeting are listed in Section 3.2 of the Annual Report. Documents available to the meeting are listed in Appendix 2.

The Chair opened the meeting with a statement of the role and duty of the Management Committees from the Agreement. He noted that NAMMCO had given specific management advice in the past, most recently to Iceland regarding the minke whales and fin whales.

2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

The agenda, as contained in Appendix 1, was adopted.

3. APPOINTMENT OF RAPPORTEUR

The Secretariat was appointed as rapporteur for the meeting.

4. CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR WHALE STOCKS

The Chair summarised past proposals for conservation and management and responses with reference to document NAMMCO/17/MC 3 (Annex 1), and summarised past requests to the SC and responses with reference to document NAMMCO/17/MC 4 (Annex 2). All new recommendations to member countries on scientific research arising and approved by the Management Committee are contained in Appendix 5.

4.1 and 4.2 Beluga and Narwhal Status of past proposals In 2006, the Management Committee for Cetaceans, while commending Greenland for the recent introduction of quotas and reduction in the harvest, expressed serious concern that takes of beluga and narwhal in West Greenland, according to the advice of both the NAMMCO Scientific Committee and the Canada/Greenland Joint Commission on Conservation and Management of Narwhal and Beluga (JCNB) Scientific Working Group, were not sustainable and would lead to further depletion of the stocks. The Management Committee therefore strongly urged Greenland to take action to bring the removals of belugas and narwhals in West Greenland to sustainable levels.

Advice from the Scientific Committee 65

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The Scientific Committee has been requested to provide an assessment in all areas of narwhal and beluga in West Greenland, and narwhal in East Greenland, as well as to provide advice on the effects of human disturbance, including noise and shipping activities, on the distribution, behaviour and conservation status of belugas, particularly in West Greenland.

With regard to surveys, it has also been recommended that future surveys for beluga and narwhal be planned using the international expertise available through the Scientific Committee of NAMMCO. In addition, if and when new survey methods are applied, they should be calibrated against previously used methods so that the validity of the survey series for determining trends in abundance is ensured.

The last assessment was carried out in 2005 and uncertainties with abundance estimates and stock structure remained. The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) has since implemented a monitoring plan from 2007-2011, covering both wintering and summering aggregations, including stock identification of all major aggregations. New surveys were undertaken in 2006 and 2007 in West Greenland, including Melville Bay and Inglefield Bredning. More tags were deployed on narwhal in West and North Greenland in 2007. An aerial survey for narwhal was conducted in East Greenland in the summer of 2008.

The Scientific Committee now recommends an update of the assessment of both narwhal and beluga as new data warrant such an exercise. The NAMMCO /JCNB Joint Working Group should meet before March 2009, to allow the updated assessment to be available for setting the new quota series. Greenland should submit fully corrected estimates derived from the 2006, 2007 and 2008 surveys to the NAMMCO /JCNB Joint Working Group. Furthermore the Scientific Committee recommends, as in 2006, that advice be forwarded to the JCNB to be dealt with at their next meeting.

The Scientific Committee reported that plans for the 2007 narwhal and beluga surveys were not presented to the T-NASS Committee and had therefore not been reviewed by this Committee. No reports have been forwarded to the Scientific Committee, and it is unknown which methods have been applied.

The Management Committee noted that, as in 2005 and 2006, the Greenland quotas for narwhal and beluga remain much above the quota recommended by the Scientific Committee of 135 narwhals and 100 belugas for West Greenland. However, the Committee also recognizes that new preliminary data on abundance show higher estimates than previously.

Greenland noted that the 2007/08 quota for narwhal includes the quota for Melville Bay of 100 narwhals, for which there is no scientific recommendation on catch levels. Greenland would encourage their scientists to continue to submit their results on distribution studies. In commenting on the given quotas, Greenland reported that there had been a hunting seminar in the spring when scientists informed hunters that numbers had increased since setting quotas. Greenland underlined that the knowledge 66

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 and expertise of both biologists s and hunters must be respected and taken into account.

Greenland also informed the Committee of an incident in August this year regarding a reported take of 48 narwhals in Rømer Fjord, Illoqqottormiit, from which only the blubber and tusks of the animals had been taken. However, an observer from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources later delivered a field report counting 32 narwhals. Greenland reported that the matter was under police investigation.

In relation to the publication of the Greenland Red List 2007, in which the status of narwhals has been erroneously described as “in danger of imminent extinction” if hunting continues, Greenland also reported that scientists at the GINR had been urged to ensure the accuracy of information provided as a basis for such publications.

Requests for advice The Committee agreed to recommend that the Scientific Committee update the assessment of both narwhal and beluga, noting that new data warrant such an exercise. The NAMMCO /JCNB Joint Working Group should meet before March 2009, to allow the updated assessment to be available for setting the new quota series. Greenland should submit fully corrected estimates derived from the 2006, 2007 and 2008 surveys to the joint Working Group. In addition, as in 2006, advice should also be forwarded to the JCNB.

4.3 Fin whales Advice from the Scientific Committee In 2007 the Scientific Committee was requested to complete an assessment for the Northeast Atlantic stocks as a next step in the process of assessing fin whale stocks in the areas of interest to NAMMCO countries.

There have been five assessments since 1999, the last in 2006, and work is outstanding with regard to abundance estimates and stock structure. More recent genetic studies still support a lack of genetic divergence across the North Atlantic. The final genetic results for the Faroese biopsies, which are crucial since preliminary results pointed to a different stock, are still not available.

New abundance estimates deriving from T-NASS include: 1. Iceland-Faroe Islands: the new estimate was presented to the NAMMCO SC WG on Abundance Estimate; the subsequent revised analysis was later endorsed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) SC; 2. Norway: an estimate from the cycle 2002-2007 will be available in 2009; 3. Greenland: the new estimate from T-NASS has still to be finally accepted; 4. Results from Canada, SNESSA and CODA should become available soon; 5. Some changes occurred in distribution, but are to be investigated further.

Requests for advice The Management Committee reiterated its recommendation to request the Scientific

Report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans

Committee to complete an assessment of fin whales in the North Atlantic and also to include an estimation of sustainable catch levels in the Central North Atlantic. This work should be initiated as soon as all estimates become available and before the next meeting of the Scientific Committee.

4.4 Minke whales Advice from the Scientific Committee An assessment of the Central minke whale stock had been carried out in 1998 and 2003, with some uncertainties regarding stock delineation remaining. Newer genetic studies indicate little variability in the Northeast Atlantic and North Atlantic. The Icelandic Research Programme has been completed and results will be available by 2010. The results from SCANS 1995 and 2005 showed changes in spatial distribution. There are new estimates from T-NASS, with the Icelandic coastal stock representing 24% of the 2001 estimate. This change in occurrence of minke whales may be explained by any or all of the following: population decrease; changes in spatial distribution; possible seasonal changes in migration. However, catches are too small to be a likely cause of population reduction of this scale.

Recommendations for scientific research The Scientific Committee recommends that the sighting rate for the T-NASS Extension survey in the Norwegian Sea be calculated and used for comparison with the other T-NASS areas and previous estimates in this area. In addition, a spatial analysis of both the historical and present survey data, including the Norwegian data, should be done in order to check whether the lower occurrence of whales could be predicted to be in the areas not covered by T-NASS. Analyses of all minke data from the Greenlandic aerial and shipboard, Icelandic-Faroes shipboard and T-NASS Extension should be carried out as soon as possible. An investigation of potential changes in the ecosystem within the framework of the SC WG on Marine Mammals and Fisheries Interactions is also recommended, and body condition indices in the Barents Sea and Iceland survey data should be published when available.

The Scientific Committee underlined the importance of synoptic surveys in interpreting distribution shifts.

Greenland reported that there had been problems in catching the quota in East Greenland, which may confirm the decline of the local population, despite many fin whales. It was suggested that surveys for minke be conducted in more northern areas off West Greenland, with a further assessment in the northern part of the area which was not surveyed under T-NASS. There are presently no plans for new Greenlandic surveys, but there is a need for abundance estimates for the Upernavik-North area.

The Scientific Committee Chair recommended that hunter’s knowledge and experience be incorporated into the planning of such surveys.

Iceland noted that, according to the results from T-NASS, abundance of common minke whales on the Icelandic continental shelf area was considerably lower in 2007 than in previous surveys in the area. A partial survey conducted in 2008 showed much 68

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 higher densities than in 2007. These densities were similar to those from previous surveys, indicating that the year 2007 was very unusual in this respect. For this reason, a full scale aerial survey will be conducted in the summer of 2009.

Russia reported an increase number of minke whales in the Barents Sea area following surveys last year. This might be a redistribution of the whales due to climatic changes and does not necessarily mean a reduction of the population elsewhere.

Requests for advice The Management Committee recommended that the Scientific Committee be requested to conduct a full assessment, including long-term sustainability of catches, of common minke whales in the Central North Atlantic once results from the 2009 survey become available. In the meantime the Scientific Committee is requested to assess the short-term (2-5 year) effects of the following total annual catches: 0, 100, 200, 400.

4.5 Sei whales Advice from the Scientific Committee NAMMCO 16 requested the Scientific Committee to investigate the status of sei whales in East and West Greenland waters, and provide estimates of sustainable yield.

Last year, it was noted that sei whales have not been harvested in any area of the North Atlantic since the 1980’s. Although some estimates of abundance are available from the NASS, with the exception of the 1989 survey, they did not have an appropriate seasonal/spatial coverage for this species.

The Scientific Committee reported that this species is generally distributed in a more southerly range than the NAMMCO area, with unpredictable northern incursions. Very few sightings during T-NASS were recorded. More sightings were made by CODA.

In order to best address the outstanding request, the Scientific Committee recommends combining T-NASS and CODA data for analysis and that the SC Fin Whale Assessment Working Group makes a state of the art study of the existing and missing information on sei whales, as a first step to an assessment. All 2007 and older estimates should be made available to that Working Group meeting.

The Management Committee endorsed the Scientific Committee’s recommendations for how it plans to proceed in addressing the outstanding request to provide advice on the status of sei whales in East and West Greenland and estimates of sustainable yield.

4.6 Northern bottlenose whales Advice from the Scientific Committee The Scientific Committee last completed an assessment of northern bottlenose whales in 1993 and 1995. A lack of information on abundance estimates, catch data, stock structure and ecology were identified. No progress has been made since. Abundance surveys have been carried out since that time, however these do not provide a reliable 69

Report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans basis for the estimation of total abundance, as visual survey methods are not effective for this deep diving species. New distributional data may be available from T-NASS and CODA.

The Faroe Islands noted that older data, as well as some new data on the diet of bottlenose whales stranded in the Faroe Islands were being analysed. Iceland reported that their diet data had been analysed but not yet reported.

Recommendations for scientific research The Management Committee endorsed the recommendation of the Scientific Committee that analyses of data on the diet of bottlenose whales be published as soon as possible.

4.7 Long-finned pilot whales Advice from the Scientific Committee Bearing in mind that T-NASS in 2007 was expected to provide a better basis for an updated abundance estimate for pilot whales in the North Atlantic, the Scientific Committee had last year been requested to ensure that both the methodology and the coverage of T-NASS take into account the need for reliable estimates for pilot whales. In addition, priority should be given to the analysis of data on pilot whales after the completion of T-NASS. Noting that it has been over 10 years since the Scientific Committee concluded its assessment of pilot whales, the Scientific Committee had also been requested to develop a proposal for the details of a cost-effective scientific monitoring programme for pilot whales in the Faroe Islands.

The last full assessment was in 1996. It had since not been possible to follow up on all the research recommendations in the Faroe Islands nor implement a full monitoring programme. There have been decreasing abundance estimates since 1987/89 (in 1995 and 2002), although these need qualification as the survey areas have been smaller and not strictly comparable.

The methodology employed in T-NASS was designed for pilot whales as well as other key species, and the survey coverage (+CODA) is sufficient for an estimate of this species. T-NASS was planned to cover the area of the 1989 survey. The success of its implementation on each vessel is being checked during the analysis. The Faroe Islands have taken the lead in the analyses of all pilot whale data and the analysis should be available late in 2008.

The Scientific Committee convened a Working Group to develop a monitoring plan, which had worked both by correspondence and had held two meetings, the reports of which had been reviewed and endorsed by the Scientific Committee.

The main recommendations from this Working Group are outlined in a proposed Monitoring Plan to assess the continued sustainability of the Faroese catch and to include both a long-term and short-term monitoring plan to this effect (Appendix 6).

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The Scientific Committee Chair explained the relative importance of the items in the monitoring plan, emphasizing that the Commission requests were a priority. However, for relatively little extra cost and effort, additional topics could supply a wealth of extra data. Finally, she noted that supporting activities were not essential but would provide wider scope to the programme.

The Scientific Committee recommended to continue the official logging of all catches (numbers of animals, sex and length) and add length at age as a new parameter; to conduct regular surveys for abundance estimates at approx. 6 yr intervals; that new abundance estimates be prioritized using T-NASS and CODA data, and that analyses of indices of abundance for all NASS/T-NASS surveys be undertaken as proposed by the Working Group; that new analyses and re-analyses of catch statistics be undertaken as a priority; that a new assessment be made when the new estimates become available; that all survey plans, assessments, data analyses of catch and biological studies be routinely presented to the NAMMCO Scientific Committee for evaluation; that an intensive short-term catch sampling programme of sex and age distribution over a 3-year period to assess variability within and between years and compare to 1986-88 sampling programme be undertaken as soon as possible; and that a standing Working Group on pilot whales be established, that would meet periodically (e.g. every few years) to examine the information.

Recommendations for scientific research The Management Committee endorsed the Scientific Committee recommendations relating to future monitoring of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands. It was, however, considered premature to establish a standing SC Working Group on Pilot Whales, before further data analysis was completed and more regular and detailed monitoring in line with the proposed programme had been established.

The Faroe Islands thanked the Scientific Committee for developing an extremely useful and pragmatic tool for the further development of sampling and monitoring of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands, not least with its clearly identified priorities and associated costs. With reference to the intensive international scientific sampling programme carried out in 1986 and 1987, it was pointed out that limited human and financial resources in the Faroe Islands do not allow for such a comprehensive undertaking on the same scale at regular intervals. A focussed 3-year programme would, however, be given serious consideration. T-NASS estimates are a first priority for the immediate future. It was also noted that it was important to continue the ongoing monitoring of pollutants in pilot whales, since pilot whales caught in the Faroe Islands are one of very few species or stocks of cetaceans with a long history of contaminant sampling, and such a study was supportive of the NAMMCO focus on environmental issues.

The Faroe Islands informed the Committee that they would report back on plans and developments as soon as possible. It was noted that there had been no catches of pilot whale drives at all so far in 2008, although there have been several off-shore observations of large schools in the area during the year.

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4.8 Harbour porpoise In 2007 the Management Committee recommended that member countries conduct surveys to produce reliable estimates of abundance for harbour porpoises in their areas. In addition the Management Committee recommended that member countries provide reliable estimates of total removals, including by-catch, for this species. Once this information is available for any area, the sustainability of removals can be assessed by the Scientific Committee. This was considered particularly urgent for Greenland, where directed catches are in the low thousands annually.

Advice from the Scientific Committee In 1997, the Council (NAMMCO 7) noted that the harbour porpoise is common to all NAMMCO member countries, and that the extent of current research activities and expertise in member countries and elsewhere across the North Atlantic would provide an excellent basis for undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the species throughout its range. The Scientific Committee was therefore requested to perform such an assessment, which might include distribution and abundance, stock identity, biological parameters, ecological interaction, pollutants, removals and sustainability of removals.

In the planning of T-NASS in 2007, the Scientific Committee was requested to ensure that the coverage of the survey and the methodology would accommodate the need for estimates of harbour porpoise, especially in Icelandic waters.

In 1999 the Scientific Committee provided a general North Atlantic-wide assessment for this species through an international conference, which later led to the publication of volume 5 of the NAMMCO Scientific Publications on harbour porpoises. However this assessment was very general in nature and did not provide specific advice on sustainable harvest levels. In 2006, the Scientific Committee noted the urgent need for estimates of abundance from all areas other than those covered by SCANS-II. While records of recent directed catch are available from Greenland, there is no reliable estimate of by-catch from Iceland or Norway, although it may be considerable in these areas. Conducting an assessment requires both estimates of abundance and removals. Thus there was not at present a sufficient information base to provide advice on sustainable removals for this species for any of the NAMMCO member countries.

The SCANS 1994 and 2005 indicated the same overall abundance, but significant changes in distribution were apparent toward southern North and Celtic seas in 2005. There is a plan for satellite tagging and survey on the Faroese plateau in the Faroe Islands.

Estimates of abundance and removals are still needed in all areas for conducting an assessment. The T-NASS survey will provide an estimate for the coastal area around Iceland, and possibly also Greenland but not for other areas. Iceland implemented a special porpoise survey design and included a porpoise observer in its team. Greenland did not implement a special design but included a porpoise observer in its aerial team.

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Recommendations for scientific research The Management Committee endorsed the Scientific Committee recommendations that Iceland and Greenland co-ordinate their analyses of the 2007 data with regard to this species, that any survey undertaken in the Faroe Islands should be designed to be compatible with the SCANS surveys, and that there should be adequate monitoring of by-catches in all areas.

Iceland underlined that harbour porpoises were included in the 2007 survey and analyses will be presented to the next Scientific Committee meeting in 2009. This will provide the first reliable abundance estimate in the Icelandic coastal area.

Greenland informed the Management Committee that a new executive government order on small cetaceans is being prepared that will include harbour porpoises, pilot whales and dolphins.

Norway reported that porpoise by-catch data will be available after validation of their by-catch monitoring programme.

4.9 White-beaked, white-sided and bottlenose dolphins Advice from the Scientific Committee The Scientific Committee has been working under a long-standing request, dating from 2001 and reiterated in 2004 (NAMMCO 10 and 13), to provide an assessment of white-sided, white-beaked and bottlenose dolphins in the North Atlantic, including direct and indirect interactions with fisheries.

Abundance estimates and stock structure information are lacking. Numerous sightings exist only for white-beaked dolphins, and occurred during T-NASS, mainly off Iceland, West Greenland, and Canada. No work has been done in Greenland, and there is little progress in Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

The Faroe Islands reported that there had been no catches in recent years.

The Management Committee noted that scientific information is still insufficient to allow for a full assessment, and reiterated its recommendation that the Scientific Committee should address the standing request as new data becomes available.

4.10 Humpback whales Advice from the Scientific Committee There has been an ongoing request for a formal assessment following the completion of the T-NASS, as well as for an investigation of the relationship between the humpback whales summering in West Greenland and other areas in order to incorporate this knowledge into estimates of sustainable yields of West Greenland humpback whales.

In addition, the Scientific Committee has been requested to assess the long-term effects of annual removals of 0, 2, 5, 10 and 20 whales off West Greenland.

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The 2007 estimate and older estimates have been reviewed and accepted by the IWC and have been reported to NAMMCO. The 2007 estimate, although not finally endorsed by the NAMMCO Scientific Committee, was higher than the 2005 estimate. A new estimate from T-NASS Iceland-Faroe Islands will be available in March 2009.

In 2006, the Scientific Committee advised that removals, including by-catch, of up to 10 animals per year would not harm the stock in the short or medium term. The advice which was endorsed by the Management Committee, was interim in nature, and should have been revisited once the 2005 estimate was revised and a new estimate was available for 2007. The estimate from 2007, although not final, is higher than the estimate of 2005 on which the advice was based. The Scientific Committee concluded that there was no reason to revise this interim advice until a full assessment is conducted.

Requests for advice The Management Committee reiterated the previous recommendation that the Scientific Committee be requested to assess the long-term effects of catches of 0, 2, 5, 10, 20 humpback whales off West Greenland and estimate sustainable yields for other stocks, as well as to conduct a formal assessment following the completion of the T- NASS. In addition, the relationship between the humpback whales summering in West Greenland and other areas should be investigated and this knowledge incorporated into the estimate of sustainable yields of West Greenland humpback whales.

The Management Committee endorsed the Scientific Committee’s recommendation that the humpback and sei whales be included under the Terms of Reference for the SC Fin Whale Assessment Working Group.

Proposals for conservation and management The Management Committee noted that in 2008, the Scientific Committee reconsidered its interim advice from 2006 for West Greenland humpbacks on the basis of the estimate of the survey conducted in 2007, noting that the abundance estimate was higher than that of the 2005 survey, on which the 2006 interim advice was based.

The Management Committee recommended that the total quota of humpbacks in West Greenland in 2009, including by-catches, should not exceed 10 animals.

4.11 Killer whales Advice from the Scientific Committee The Scientific Committee has a standing request for an assessment of killer whales (NAMMCO 13), including to review knowledge on the abundance, stock structure, migration and feeding ecology of killer whales in the North Atlantic, and to provide advice on research needs to improve this knowledge. Priority should be given to killer whales in the West Greenland – Eastern Canada area.

The SC Working Group to address this request last met in 1995 and concluded that while considerable progress will likely be made in the next few years, available information was still not sufficient to conduct the requested assessment. Since then, 74

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 there have been changes in distribution in Norway following changing in the winter distribution of herring. A few T-NASS sightings have been reported (Iceland coastal and Norwegian Sea). There are ongoing studies in photo ID and genetics in Iceland, Norway and Scotland. In 2007, the IWC review for assessment concluded there was insufficient data for assessment of this species.

The Management Committee noted that information is still insufficient to allow for a full assessment and reiterated its recommendation that the Scientific Committee should address the standing request as new data becomes available.

5. PROCEDURES FOR DECISION-MAKING ON CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES

Greenland raised the issue of procedures within NAMMCO for making decisions on conservation and management measures, in particular with regard to the setting and allocating of catch limits for large whales. These questions were in part prompted by Greenland’s dissatisfaction with the decision-making process within the IWC, where Greenland’s request for a limited “aboriginal subsistence” quota of humpback whales was recently rejected. Greenland therefore urged a discussion on how to develop appropriate processes within NAMMCO for setting quotas, and proposed that the Management Committee examine existing procedures to see if any revisions or updates are necessary.

Other delegations noted that the NAMMCO Agreement was clear with respect to the mandate of Management Committees to make recommendations to their members for conservation and management measures based on the consensus of members present in the respective Committee (NAMMCO Agreement, Article 5).

It was further noted in the discussion that the way in which conservation and management measures are developed in NAMMCO is related to the nature of the utilisation of the stock in question. For example, in 1997 the Management Committee concluded that the catch of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands was sustainable, but did not propose a specific quota, as the nature of the drive hunt of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands does not warrant such a measure and the stock is only subject to direct catches in the Faroe Islands. Over all sustainable catch limits for minke and fin whales in Iceland, and bottlenose whales in the Faroe Islands, based on advice from the Scientific Committee, had also been recommended by the Management Committee in previous years. Whether and how individual member countries choose to base their national management measures on these recommendations is a sovereign decision for the country in question.

Allocation of shared stocks was, however, an issue that had not yet been fully addressed in the NAMMCO context. It was pointed out that in international fisheries cooperation, allocation is commonly negotiated through bilateral or multilateral consultations among the coastal states in whose waters the shared resources are utilised. This could no doubt also serve as a model for NAMMCO, based on total

Report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans sustainable catch limits for specific stocks agreed on by the relevant Management Committee.

In summary it was concluded that there was no need to make changes to the Agreement in order for NAMMCO to recommend total quotas for stocks of large whales or any other marine mammal species.

It was, however, noted that it will take considerable time for the Scientific Committee to complete work requested on methods for producing quota advice for stocks of baleen whales (see below) and that given Greenland's interest in receiving such advice in the short term, NAMMCO might consider further methods for producing interim advice on precautionary quotas, such as that already recommended for humpback whales in West Greenland (see under 4.10). The Scientific Committee Chair noted that guidelines on the duration of assessment validity and frequency of updated abundance estimates would also be required.

Requests for advice The Management Committee recommended that the Scientific Committee be requested to study general models for conservation and management of baleen whales, inter alia based on Norwegian studies presented to the Scientific Committee of the IWC.

6. RELATED MANAGEMENT ISSUES

6.1 Role of marine mammals in the marine ecosystem Incorporating: • Marine mammal - fisheries interactions • Economic aspects of marine mammal – fisheries interactions • Multi-species approaches to management

Advice from the Scientific Committee There is an ongoing request to the Scientific Committee to monitor progress made in multi-species modelling and in the collection of input data and to decide when enough progress has been made to warrant further efforts in this area. In addition, the Scientific Committee has been requested to review the results of the Icelandic programme on the feeding ecology of minke whales and multi-species modelling as soon as these become available.

The Scientific Committee has organised a number of Working Groups and Workshops over the years to address these standing requests (1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002), although the development of ecosystem modelling has taken considerable time and still requires much further work. There were new developments in ecosystem modelling in Japan and Norway. In July 2007 FAO organised a Workshop on Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, and a forthcoming NAFO-ICES-NAMMCO sponsored Symposium, “The Role of Marine Mammals in the Ecosystem in the 21th century”, 29 September – 1 October 2008 was expected to provide an overview of

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 latest knowledge and research findings. Results from the Icelandic programme on the feeding ecology of minke whales were also expected in the near future.

The Management Committee encouraged countries and institutes undertaking such studies to continue this important work.

Greenland stressed the importance of ecosystem-based management (EBM), noting that many changes recently observed of occurrence of marine mammal and fish stocks. It is therefore very important for effective management to have a better understanding of the relationship between predators and prey and their role in the ecosystem. The Faroe Islands agreed with Greenland’s comments, and noted that there was a need for stronger scientific collaboration between fisheries and marine mammal scientists.

Requests for advice The Management Committee agreed to recommend that, in addressing the standing requests on ecosystem modeling and marine mammal fisheries interaction, the Scientific Committee should extend the focus to include all areas under NAMMCO jurisdiction. In the light of the distributional shifts seen under T-NASS 2007, the Scientific Committee should investigate dynamic changes in spatial distribution due to ecosystem changes and functional responses.

6.2 By-catch data and monitoring Advice from the Scientific Committee The Scientific Committee reported that by-catch of marine mammals likely constitutes an appreciable proportion of total removals of coastal seals, porpoises and dolphins in all areas, although there is no estimate of total by-catch (nor abundance) for many species and stocks. There has been no progress for monitoring by-catch in the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland, but by-catches are also reported as direct catch, although not systematically. In 2006, Norway implemented a by-catch monitoring system, based on reporting by selected vessels, which is presently being evaluated.

The Management Committee noted the recommendation of the Scientific Committee to organise a workshop to review the use and applicability of by-catch monitoring systems in use in different organizations, including the Norwegian monitoring system as well as to seek contact with other organizations dealing with by-catch monitoring to initiate. It was also recommended that Iceland proceeds in implementing a monitoring programme for its fleet.

The Management Committee agreed that there was need for further guidance from the Council in relation to the priority of requests and the workload of the Scientific Committee, before it could endorse the recommendation for a review of by-catch systems.

Greenland informed the Committee that by-catches of large whales and beluga and narwhals are reported. For harbour porpoises it is less certain whether the by-catches are reported as catches because the reporting of by-catch is not obligatory for this 77

Report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans species. However, this will be dealt with in the new executive government order.

6.3 User Knowledge in Management Decision-making The Management Committee agreed that the issue of user knowledge in management decision-making, while also being a general item on the Council agenda, should be included on future agendas of the Committee to allow for the presentation of relevant new information from member countries and discussion in relation to the management of specific species and stocks.

7. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Ásta Einarsdottir, Iceland was elected as Chair of the Committee. Ulla S. Wang, Faroe Islands, was elected as Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Thanks were extended to the outgoing Chair, Halvard Johansen, for his able and consistent chairing of this Committee, and its predecessor, the General Management Committee, for the past 4 years.

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Norway made an intervention on trade issues noting that cooperation through NAMMCO is based on the principle of sustainable utilisation. Economic considerations and the generation of revenues through trade in marine mammal products are an essential part of this principle. However, trade has been disrupted because of anti-whaling and anti-sealing lobbies and politically motivated trade bans, such as in relation to seal products in the EU. NAMMCO has a role to play in this situation, and member countries should continue to work actively together, as well as to be consistent in their own trade policies. The statement by Norway is contained in Appendix 3. The ICC also submitted a statement on its position regarding whaling and the IWC, which is placed in Appendix 4.

Delegations agreed that there is no valid conservation or management distinction between different types of sustainable whaling and sealing and there should be no artificial restrictions in terms of what can or cannot be traded. International trade in marine resources, including marine mammals is vital to the economies of all NAMMCO member countries.

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Appendix 1 AGENDA

1. Chairman's opening remarks 2. Adoption of agenda 3. Appointment of rapporteur 4. Conservation and Management measures for Whale stocks 4.1 Beluga West Greenland - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.2 Narwhal West Greenland - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.3 Fin whales East-Greenland –Iceland stock Faroe Islands - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.4 Minke whales Central North Atlantic West Greenland - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.5 Sei whales - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.6 Northern bottlenose whales - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee 79

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- New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.7 Long-finned pilot whales - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.8 Harbour porpoise - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.9 White-beaked, white-sided and bottlenose dolphins - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.10 Humpback whales Greenland - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.11 Killer whales - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 5. Procedures for decision-making on conservation and management measures 6. Related management issues 6.1 Role of marine mammals in the marine ecosystem 6.2 By-catch data and monitoring 6.3 User Knowledge in Management Decision-making 7. Election of officers 8. Any other business

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Appendix 2 LIST OF DOCUMENTS

NAMMCO/17/CMC/1 Agenda NAMMCO/17/CMC/2 List of Documents

NAMMCO/17/MC/3 Status of past proposals for conservation and management NAMMCO/17/MC/4 Summary of requests by NAMMCO Council to the Scientific Committee, and responses by the Scientific Committee

National Progress Reports: NAMMCO/17/NPR-F National Progress Report – Faroe Islands NAMMCO/17/NPR-G National Progress Report – Greenland NAMMCO/17/NPR-I National Progress Report – Iceland NAMMCO/17/NPR-N National Progress Report – Norway NAMMCO/17/NPR-C National Progress Report – Canada NAMMCO/17/NPR-R National Progress Report – Russian Federation

NAMMCO/17/5 Report of the Fifteenth NAMMCO Scientific Committee NAMMCO/17/5 Addendum Report of the NAMMCO Working Group on Pilot Whales, July 2008.

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Appendix 3 NAMMCO – TRADE ISSUES STATEMENT BY ODD GUNNAR SKAGESTAD ON BEHALF OF THE NORWEGIAN DELEGATION

NAMMCO was founded on the principle of sustainable use of renewable natural resources: not only in the biological or ecological sense. The harvesting of marine living resources should also be economically sustainable. The industry should be viable and contribute to positive value creation. This means that trade, including international trade in whale products and seal products – as with regard to the products of other legitimate industries – should be allowed and encouraged.

That is, at least in principle. In reality there are certain unfortunate facts that we have to take into account.

In the International Whaling Commission (IWC) there is a tendency to distinguish between viz. “commercial” and so-called “aboriginal subsistence” whaling. The 1946 International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling does not recognize such a distinction – apart from its provisions (Article VIII) concerning scientific permits, the Conventions recognizes only one kind of whaling – the sustainable kind. Nevertheless in the IWC “Commercial” whaling is condemned as a sinful activity, while “subsistence” whaling is seen as somewhat more acceptable. The point of this distinction is that no commercialism i.e. no trade is supposed to be involved. One may of course pretend that it makes a difference in the moral sense if the hunter kills the animal and consumes it on the spot instead of trading the products with other people, but this is hypocritical and absurd. Such a distinction is artificial and dangerous, and should not be accepted. In my view, such a distinction between commercial and aboriginal subsistence whaling is simply wrong. In both cases we deal with human beings legitimately making a living from utilizing natural resources. What counts is whether we deal with sustainable harvesting of nature’s surplus or unsustainable exploitation of these resources.

Thus, trade is a legitimate and indeed necessary component of the sustainable use of whale resources. So, what is the problem?

The problem is that international trade has been disrupted and virtually destroyed for political reasons, as a result of the destructive activities of well-organized and articulate interest-groups – so-called environmentalists and “animal-rights” fanatics who have succeeded in creating an unholy alliance between the anti-whaling majority of the IWC and the anti-trade forces that dominate the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – CITES.

I do not think I need to say more with regard to the situation concerning international trade in whale products – this sad history is well known to everybody present here.

But we also know that the attacks on trade in products from marine mammals are not confined to the trade in whale products. Powerful forces are also out to destroy the 82

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 sealing industry. We are especially concerned at the developments in the European Union – the EU. The EU Commission has recently submitted a proposal to ban all trade in seal products – with two exceptions: (1) Products from Inuit seal hunts; and (2) Products where it can be ascertained that the hunt is conducted in a way that fulfils very strict and comprehensive condition i.e. to ensure that humane killing methods are applied, with a minimum of suffering on the part of the animal.

How these requirements are going to be implemented or practiced, we do not yet know. Obviously, we all agree that humane hunting method should be use. But we maintain that the proposed ban is in clear violation of international trade agreements, such as the GATT and WTO regulations. And there is no doubt that the ultimate aim of the trade ban is to destroy the sealing industry completely by destroying the trade. Why do I say all these things which are well known to us all?

I think it is important to underline these problems because NAMMCO has a role to play.

NAMMCO should be in the forefront of opposing any moves to introduce further restrictions on international trade in marine mammal products. We should do this as a body and as individual member countries. We should follow a clear and consistent policy in this regard wherever and whenever we encounter this problem – in global and international for a (such as the IWC and the CITES) as well as in regional fora, in our dealings with regional bodies such as the EU, and in our dealings with individual countries.

But in order to be credible, we cannot restrict ourselves to criticizing the behavior of others. If we are serious in demanding of others that they allow free and unrestricted trade in whale and seal products, we must be equally consistent in our own practices. We cannot afford to apply double standards.

So, in conclusion, I would like to remind all and every one of us to take a hard look on our own policies, and do our utmost to promote international trade in whale and seal products, bearing in mind that such trade is vitally important for the whaling and sealing industries to survive in the modern world.

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Appendix 4 STATEMENT BY AQQALUK LYNGE, PRESIDENT OF ICC-GREENLAND

• The existing management regimes in the world, in regards to hunting wildlife, especially IWC, base their quota in aboriginal and non-aboriginal whaling. • Aboriginal subsistence hunting is based on the assumption that there is no commercial connection with the distribution of the catch. • From the Greenlandic experience that distinction is too narrow, since our distribution system is more like the other North Atlantic coastal communities than those of Inuit in Canada and especially Alaska, who still practice their traditional subsistence “economy”. • ICC fully support the desire of the Greenlandic Government for a new management regime replacing IWC. The idea of NAMMCO taking over the management is also interesting to elaborate on. • The world opinion on whaling and the sealing is however based on symbolic values more than the issues. To say it clearly, the animal rights movements care about the symbolic values and certainly not the Indigenous Peoples Rights. Through the IWC they have effectively divided whaling into commercial and subsistence whaling and certainly not sustainable use of renewable resources. • There is an exemption clause about whaling in the IWC, the Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling and the same clause can be found in the US Marine Mammal Protection Act. • There is a tendency in the international fora to accept the notion that only the indigenous peoples will have hunting rights as opposed to commercial hunting. • This means for many indigenous peoples that subsistence rights and commercial hunting activities are two different issues. • For ICC and indigenous peoples’ organizations in the world it is important that governments, scientists and management organizations recognize the importance of indigenous knowledge in those issues, whether IWC continue to manage whaling or another international forum is taking over.

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Appendix 5 RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEMBER COUNTRIES

Narwhal and Beluga Greenland The Scientific Committee urged Greenland to submit fully corrected estimates derived from the March 2006, August 2007 and 2008 surveys to the next meeting of the joint NAMMCO / JCNB WG. Norway Norway has for several years tried to get funding for a joint Norwegian- Russian genetics and satellite tracking study of belugas without any success. The Scientific Committee highly recommended that this project be funded.

Fin whale All countries The Scientific Committee recommended that recent indications of changes in distribution (i.e. spatial dynamics) related to environmental changes be taken into account when designing future surveys. Faroes The Scientific Committee noted that here had been no progress since the 2006 fin whale Working Group meeting in genetic analyses of the Faroese fin whale biopsy samples taken in 2000-2001. In the light of previous indications that Faroese fin whales may be very different from other N. Atlantic fin whales, the Scientific Committee urged rapid completion of the genetic analysis of these samples using techniques compatible with those used currently on Icelandic samples. Iceland The Scientific Committee welcomed the new T-NASS estimate, that it considered still as “preliminary”. It recommended that the revision and analysis identified be carried out as soon as possible. NAMMCO Secretariat The Scientific Committee requested the Secretariat to find out the outcome of the meeting of the IUCN special group meeting regarding fin whales and their status.

Minke whale All Countries The Scientific Committee recommended that a spatial analysis of both the historical and present survey data, including the Norwegian data, be initiated to check whether the missing whales could be predicted to be in the areas not covered by the T-NASS survey. Greenland, Iceland and NAMMCO Secretariat The Scientific Committee also recommended that the analysis of all the minke whale data from the Greenlandic (aerial and shipboard), T-NASS Extension and Icelandic (shipboard) surveys be analysed as soon as possible. Iceland and Norway 85

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The Scientific Committee recommended that body condition indices in the Barents Sea and Iceland be published when available. NAMMCO Secretariat The Scientific Committee recommended that sighting rate for the T-NASS Extension survey in the Norwegian Sea be calculated and used for comparison with the other T-NASS areas and previous estimates in this area.

Sei whale All countries The Scientific Committee recommended that T-NASS sei whale data be combined with CODA sei whale data for analysis. The Scientific Committee recommended making all sei whale survey data available to the fin whale assessment group.

Bottlenose whale Faroes and Iceland The Scientific Committee strongly recommended that the Faroese and Icelandic data on bottlenose whale feeding be made available as soon as possible.

Long-finned Pilot whales Faroes The Scientific Committee recommended that data from both aerial and shipboard surveys should be included in the analysis for pilot whales after being grouped and validated. The Faroes should take the lead for this analysis. The Scientific Committee recommended that calculation of new abundance estimates using T-NASS and CODA data be prioritized. The Scientific Committee recommended that work that could be started immediately before a final programme be detailed and approved, be initiated: • Calculation of indices of abundances from previous NASS surveys – 1987 and 1989, 1995 and 2001, as well as 2007. • Full documentation and statistical analysis of historic and present catch series – including length / skinn composition and sex ratio of pods. This should be undertaken as a priority The Scientific Committee recommended that all survey plans, assessments, data analyses of catch and biological studies be routinely presented to the NAMMCO Scientific Committee for evaluation.

Harbour porpoise All countries With regards to conducting an assessment (NAMMCO 7), estimates of abundance and removals are still needed in all areas. The T-NASS survey will provide an estimate for the coastal area around Iceland, and maybe Greenland but will not do so for other areas. Faroes 86

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The Scientific Committee recommended that the planned survey for harbour porpoise be designed to be compatible with SCANS II and other harbour porpoise surveys. The Scientific Committee suggested that a double platform setup similar to the SNESSA survey also be used. There were also suggestions to investigate the possibility to employ an aerial survey. Greenland and Iceland The Scientific Committee recommended that Greenland and Iceland coordinate the analysis of harbour porpoise data from the T-NASS surveys.

White-beaked, white-sided and bottlenose dolphins Greenland and Norway The Scientific Committee recommended that white-beaked dolphin data from the Greenlandic aerial survey and the Norwegian shipboard survey be analysed. Iceland The Scientific Committee recommended that white-sided dolphin data from T-NASS be analysed.

Humpback whale All countries The Scientific Committee recommended that biopsies and photo-ID data from all the areas be analyzed before the initiation of a new assessment. Scientific Committee also recommended that abundance estimates for humpback whale from all surveys (2007 and older) be made available to the fin whale assessment group.

Killer whale All countries The Scientific Committee recommended that pictures taken during the T- NASS survey be made available for a cooperative study involving photo-ID and genetics, and initiated by the Marine Research Institute in Reykjavik, the University of Aberdeen and Dr Tiu Similä.

By-catch of Marine Mammals Iceland The Scientific Committee recommended that Iceland proceed in implementing a monitoring programme for its fleet.

T-NASS All countries The Scientific Committee recommends the analysis of sperm whale T- NASS acoustic data. The Scientific Committee encouraged the participants in the T-NASS surveys to prepare and make available feedback on progress in this project to the Secretariat for drafting a common press release and for updating the T-NASS web space.

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The Scientific Committee recommended that the publication pertaining to the general distribution of all cetaceans species throughout the entire survey area be given a high priority by all countries and that all participants forward the needed data to the Secretariat in a timely fashion. The Scientific Committee recommended that T-NASS data be transformed in a format similar to the one employed by the IWC and be archived at the NAMMCO Secretariat with the necessary clauses for use restrictions.

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Appendix 6 PROPOSED ACTIVITIES OF A MONITORING PROGRAMME FOR LONG- FINNED PILOT WHALES IN THE FAROE ISLANDS FROM NAMMCO/17/5 ADDENDUM

Monitoring Research

Commission A. Abundance (Surveys) A.1. Review analysis of past surveys request B. Catch numbers, ages (abundance indices for trends) by sex A.2. Development of survey methods C. Reporting specifically for pilot whales A.3. Area of stock distribution (tagging, population structure) B.1. Analysis of existing catch series B.2. Short-term intensive sampling of sex and age distribution data over a 3-year period to analyse variability in support of a cost effective long-term monitoring plan Additional D. Catch: length at age A.4. Genetics topics E. Contaminants A.5. Life table F. Reproductive status E-F.1. Effect of contaminants on G. Health reproduction H. Condition G.1. Health (what parameters to monitor and their meaning) H.1. Spatial analysis Supporting I. Data to be collected in activities case of strandings elsewhere than Faroes J. Review of tissues banks K. Review of management plans for small cetaceans under exploitation

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2.2 REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR SEALS AND WALRUSES 3-4 September 2008, Sisimiut, Greenland

1. CHAIRPERSON'S OPENING REMARKS

Chair Amalie Jessen (Greenland) welcomed delegates and the observers to the Management Committee on Seals and Walruses (SMC).

Reminding the convened Delegates of the §10 of the NAMMCO agreement the Chair renewed NAMMCO’s invitation to the governments of Canada and the Russian Federation to join the Commission.

2. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The agenda was adopted (Appendix 1).

3. APPOINTMENT OF RAPPORTEUR

The Secretariat was appointed as rapporteur.

4. CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR SEAL STOCKS

Documents referred to are listed in Appendix 2. Note that all recommendations to member countries agreed below are summarised in Appendix 3.

4.1 Harp seals The Committee noted that there was an ongoing request for advice from NAMMCO/15: to evaluate how both a projected decrease and a projected increase in the total population of Northwest Atlantic harp seals might affect the proportion of animals summering in Greenland.

Harp seals are a hunted stock with monitoring and surveys at most every 5 years. A survey in the Greenland Sea in 2007 produced data on pup production for harp seals in the West Ice. A concentration of white coats (harp seal pups) was observed for the first time in Southwest Greenland in April 2007.

Advice from the Scientific Committee The Committee noted and supported the following recommendations from the Scientific Committee: 1. A possible southward relocation of breeding by harp seals should be investigated by means of aerial surveys.

2. The Scientific Committee reiterated its recommendations (2004, 2005 and 2006): that a request concerning how a projected decrease in the total 91

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population of Northwest Atlantic harp seals might affect the proportion of animals summering in Greenland was to be addressed to the ICES-NAFO WG by Greenland though ICES, in time to be dealt with at the Joint ICES- NAFO WG meeting in Tromsø in August 2008. Greenland in fact raised a new concern that the population is increasing and not decreasing.

The Commission had recommended last year that Greenland take the initiative of forwarding the request of advice to the ICES/NAFO WG. Greenland informed that the request had unfortunately not been conveyed yet, but that this would be done.

3. Request for support from the NAMMCO Council to the Joint Norwegian- Russian Research Programme on Harp Seal Ecology. To this end the Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission initiated a Joint Norwegian- Russian research Programme on Harp Seal Ecology. Full support to this programme was given at NAMMCO SC/14. However, the Russian authorities (Federal Technical Committee) refused the deployment of satellite tags in the White Sea in May both in 2007 and 2008.

Requests for advice The Committee supported the request from the Scientific Committee for NAMMCO to address a recommendation to the Russian authorities to allow the deployment of satellite tags in the White and Barents Sea in 2009 as part of the harp seal ecology study, and recommends that the Russian authorities allow the continuation of this study.

The Committee requested the Scientific Committee to establish a quota system for the common stocks between Norway and the Russian Federation and advice on Total Allowable Catches (TAC) for the management of this species be referred to the NAMMCO SC, leaving full freedom to the Committee to decide on the best methods to determine this parameter based on an ecosystem approach.

4.2 Hooded seals Status of past proposals The Committee noted that there had been a recent request from NAMMCO 16: that catches of hooded seals in the Greenland Sea should be restricted to necessary scientific catches and to satisfy local needs at roughly current levels.

Hooded seals are currently at 10-15% of the 1940s abundance, and there is monitoring and a very restricted harvest. The Scientific Committee had been requested to investigate possible reasons for the apparent decline of the Greenland Sea stock of hooded seals and also to assess the status of the stock on basis of the results from the planned survey in 2007. A survey in the Greenland Sea in 2007 produced data on pup production for hooded seals in the West Ice.

Advice from the Scientific Committee The Committee noted that the Scientific Committee’s recommendation that a request 92

NAMMCO Annual Report 2007 - 2008 be addressed to the ICES-NAFO WG regarding the declining hooded seals in the Greenland Sea had in fact been forwarded to the ICES-NAFO Working Group by Norway and has been dealt with at the August 2008 meeting in Tromsø. The report of the ICES-NAFO WG meeting and the answers to the request will be dealt with at the NAMMCO 16 SC meeting in 2009.

There were no new proposals and recommendations for scientific research nor proposals for conservation and management.

4.3 Ringed Seals The Committee noted that there were no outstanding requests and no new information to report for this species. The last assessment was carried out in 1996. Since that time there has been little progress and still very little is known on this species, mainly on behaviour.

Advice from the Scientific Committee The Committee supports the Scientific Committee’s reiteration of its previous recommendations to initiate studies for addressing the importance of pack-ice breeding seals.

There were no new proposals and recommendations for scientific research nor proposals for conservation and management.

4.4 Grey Seals Status of past proposals The committee noted the recent request from NAMMCO 16: a request for definition of management objectives in Norway.

Advice from the Scientific Committee The last assessment advice was given in 2003. Iceland had presented a management plan in 2004 and a new survey is planned for 2008. In the Faroes there is a need for immediate effort to gather better information on population, removals and breeding sites.

In response to a recommendation from the Scientific Committee for provision of data on age composition of catch, Iceland reminded the Committee that the data on age composition is owned by private parties and thus it is difficult to gather these kinds of data. Iceland will however try to obtain these data and to present them to the next meeting at Scientific Committee meeting providing that the issue of private ownership of the data is resolved.

Norway informed that a quota of 25% of the population has been established taking into consideration the estimated by-catch levels. A new population estimate for the period 2006-8 will soon be available, and a management plan, complemented by a genetic study, will be presented to the next Scientific Committee meeting in 2009.

The Faroese reported that efforts were being undertaken to obtain better information 93

Report of the Management Committee for Seals and Walruses on population, removals and breeding sites for this species, and that satellite tagging of grey seals has been attempted and is in progress.

There were no new proposals and recommendations for scientific research nor proposals for conservation and management.

4. 5 Harbour seals Status of past proposals The Committee noted a request from NAMMCO 16: to define management objectives for harbour seals in Norway, Iceland and Greenland.

There was also a request from NAMMCO 16 to the Scientific Committee: to conduct a formal assessment of the status of harbour seals around Iceland and Norway as soon as practicable.

In Iceland, new abundance estimates are available, but there is still insufficient information on by-catch. Norway implemented a system for assessment of the two coastal seal species that secures updated information about abundance approximately every 5 yr. This system has provided two abundance estimates after 1996. As a third point estimate is needed for an assessment for harbour seals another survey is needed and will probably be performed by 2010.

Advice from the Scientific Committee A first assessment by the Scientific Committee was executed in 2006 and showed that this species is at risk in all areas due to substantial decrease and / or unsustainable takes. No management plan has yet been devised in any of the countries. However, Greenland has started a research plan. In Norway, correction factors for minimum counts are under development.

The Scientific Committee considered that an assessment of the species should wait until a third abundance estimate is available from Norway and until new, reliable by- catch data, new information on multipliers (ground truthing), and the distribution of catch areas are secured. It is reasonable to imagine that the management plan will be ready by 2010. A similar timeframe will also be required for Iceland to develop its own programme.

The Committee noted the following earlier recommendations from the Scientific Committee from 2006: • More efficient monitoring of by-catch in all fisheries. • Continued and frequent abundance surveys in Norway and Iceland. • Estimation of the size of the remaining Greenlandic population. • Statement of clear management objectives in Norway, Iceland and Greenland. • Design of a plan for the Faroe Islands in case there was a re-colonisation. • That Greenland enforces a total ban on the hunt of harbour seals.

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In addition the Committee supported the following and reiterated recommendations from the SC: • That Iceland undertakes a formal assessment of the stock and establishes clear management objectives., as well as obtains information on by-catch. • That Norway collects data on by-catch and devises a management plan. • An assessment of harbour seals should await the following: o A third Norwegian abundance estimate, including information on multipliers and distribution of catch areas. o A reliable reporting of by-catch data and age composition of takes in all areas. o An assessment should therefore be performed in 2010.

Iceland informed that a new abundance estimate is presently available, but reliable by- catch information is still missing. Furthermore, a management plan is being designed and in particular that management objectives are being defined.

Norway reported that new abundance estimates, calculated according to the recommendations of the Scientific Committee, will be carried out in 2010. At this time by-catch information from 2006 will also be available from the new by-catch monitoring programme. A management plan is expected to be completed by autumn 2008

Greenland informed that a draft of an executive order on protection and hunting of seals in Greenland is under construction and in this a ban on hunting of harbour seal is included.

There were no new proposals and recommendations for scientific research nor proposals for conservation and management.

4.6 Atlantic Walrus Status of past proposals The Committee noted two requests from Council for advice from the Scientific Committee: 1. NAMMCO 13 and 16: requested the provision of a formal assessment of the Davis Strait stock as soon as finalisation of the catch series is complete and the results from the planned 2007 survey are available; and subsequently to provide estimates of sustainable yields of the North Water and West Greenland stocks of walrus.

2. NAMMCO 15: requested the SC specifically to provide advice on the effects of human disturbance, including fishing and shipping activities, in particular scallop fishing, on distribution, behaviour and conservation status of walrus in West Greenland

Advice from the Scientific Committee Present removals were reported as likely not sustainable for the North Water and West 95

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Greenland stocks. The last assessment was made in 2005, but it was incomplete because of the lack information on stock delineation and abundance information. A revised corrected catch series (including “struck-and-lost”) was also needed.

Considerable progress has been made on catch series in all areas and most items. Results are planned for December 2008, but no progress has been made in improving the old catch series (up to 2006) for Greenland.

The hypothesis of a common stock of walrus between Canada and Greenland has been “confirmed” (West Greenland walruses have been observed wintering in eastern Baffin Island).

New data are anticipated in the summer 2009 on survey and tagging in the North Water, and a survey in East Greenland.

Regarding the assessment of West Greenland-Eastern Baffin Island stock, there would be sufficient new data by the end of 2008/09, but not before, so that a WG could not be convened to make the assessment.

No progress was reported on the subject of human disturbance on West Greenland walrus.

Requests for advice The Committee supported the Scientific Committee’s recommendations for a new assessment which was feasible either as : 1. An assessment of West Greenland-Eastern Baffin Island only (due early 2009, before the SC meeting); or 2. A full assessment of North Water, West Greenland-Eastern Baffin Island and East Greenland (due late 2009 or early 2010). Greenland underlined the need to complete the full assessment before late 2009, and therefore requested the Scientific Committee to provide a full assessment (option 2.) in time for the establishment of quotas. The Committee recommends that the Greenlandic authorities make sure the researchers from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) are aware of this request.

There were no new proposals and recommendations for scientific research nor proposals for conservation and management.

5. PROCEDURES FOR DECISION-MAKING ON CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES

This item was discussed in a joint session with the Management Committee for Cetaceans and is to be found in the report of that Committee (Section 2.1, Item 5.).

6. RELATED MANAGEMENT ISSUES

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Items 6.1 and 6.2 were discussed in a joint session with the Management Committee for Cetaceans and are to be found in the report of that Committee (Section 2.1, Items 6.1 and 6.2).

6.3 User Knowledge in Management Decision-making The Committee agreed to disband the Working Group on User Knowledge and to reconsider the issue for the next meeting (during NAMMCO 18).

7. TRADE ISSUES AND THE EU PROPOSAL ON BAN OF IMPORT OF SEALSKIN

In 2008 the European Commission resolved on a ban on the import of sealskin. The case has been ongoing since January 2006 with a long series of meetings and hearings.

It was underlined that NAMMCO is a management body and not a lobby organization. NAMMCO member countries share views on management resources, scientific approach to management and on sustainable use. Thus ideally NAMMCO should lead by example as a management body (i.e. by publicising work such as the activities of the Committee on Hunting Methods). It was stressed that the proposed ban was not taken as a conservation and management measure.

However, the SMC expressed their serious concerns about the implications that such trade barriers can have on the responsible management and sustainable use of abundant seals stocks across the North Atlantic, and the economies of the many communities dependent on these resources.

Statement by the ICC: Aqqaluk Lynge, president of the ICC-Greenland, presented a statement which can be found as Appendix 4 of the Report of the Management Committee for Cetaceans (Section 2.1). The reference therein to hunting and world perception of hunting rights was also of relevance to sealing.

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Sealing Symposium Norway reported on the Norwegian-Russian Symposium in Tromsø, 25-26 August 2008, on Prospects for Future Sealing in the North Atlantic. The programme included several presentations from Norwegian, Russian and other sources, including: • Status and management of harp and hooded seals in Canada • Russian hunt and prospects • New Russian boat approach • Management objectives for the Norwegian seal hunt • Greenland Sea sealing • KNAPK view on sealing • Traditional products from the seal hunt: status and prospects • Seal oil and contributions to human health 97

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• Report from the Vaasa Seals and Society conference (October 2007) • Sustainable harvest of marine resources: should seals and fish be treated differently? • Implications for the trade ban • Anti-sealing: who are they? • Future of sealing in the North Atlantic. A published report will follow.

The SMC commented that this Tromsø Symposium was originally thought to be limited to Norway and the Russian Federation, but it has become an international event. It is a very interesting forum and it is useful for the collaboration on commercial and scientific interests between the two countries and among the other participants. It is a good platform for understanding the problems of sealing, and for this reason, meetings like this one should be held again in the future.

Statement by KNAPK A hearing among the local members has resulted in new information on harp seals and reproduction. KNAPK hopes that user knowledge can be used in management of all seals. In particular harbour seal hunting levels are presently very low: the decline in numbers is surely due to some other factor than hunting. The full statement is found as Appendix 4 to the main Council Report in Section 1.1.

9. CLOSURE OF THE MEETING

There were no other matters for consideration, and the Chair thanked the Scientific Committee Chair and all participants to the meeting and declared the meeting closed.

The draft report was approved, and the final version was agreed upon by correspondence.

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Appendices 1&2 APPENDIX 1: AGENDA

1. Chairman's opening remarks 2. Adoption of agenda 3. Appointment of rapporteur 4. Conservation and Management measures for seal stocks 4.1 Harp Seals Greenland Sea Barents / White seas NW Atlantic - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.2 Hooded Seals Greenland Sea Barents / White seas NW Atlantic - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.3 Ringed Seals Greenland Others? - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.4 Grey Seals Norway Iceland Faroe Islands - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.5 Harbour Seals Norway Greenland Iceland - Status of past proposals 99

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- Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 4.6 Walrus Greenland - Status of past proposals - Requests by Council for advice from the Scientific Committee - Responses by the Scientific Committee - New proposals and recommendations for scientific research - Proposals for conservation and management 5. Procedures for decision-making on conservation and management measures 6. Related management issues 6.1 Role of marine mammals in the marine ecosystem 6.2 By-catch data and monitoring 6.3 User Knowledge in Management Decision-making 7. Trade issues and the EU proposal on ban of import of sealskin 8. Any other business.

APPENDIX 2: LIST OF DOCUMENTS

NAMMCO/17/SMC/1 Agenda NAMMCO/17/SMC/2 List of Documents

NAMMCO/17/MC/3 Status of past proposals for conservation and management NAMMCO/17/MC/4 Summary of requests by NAMMCO Council to the Scientific Committee, and responses by the Scientific Committee

NAMMCO/17/5 Report of the Fifteenth NAMMCO Scientific Committee

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Appendix 3 RECOMMENDATIONS TO MEMBER COUNTRIES

Harp seals Greenland In 2005, the Council requested an evaluation on how a projected decrease in the total population of Northwest Atlantic harp seals might affect the population of animals summering in Greenland.

The Scientific Committee reiterated its recommendation that ICES-NAFO Working Group be asked to address this request, as a first step. The SC urged Greenland to forward this request to the ICES-NAFO Working Group on Hoods and Harps as soon as possible, so this matter could be dealt with at the next meeting in late August 2008. Norway The Scientific Committee recommended flying reconnaissance surveys (e.g. south of 67°N in East Greenland) to investigate the possible presence of whelping patches in “untraditional” areas, to continue the sampling for biological parameters, and the characterization of stock identity.

Ringed seal Greenland and Norway The Scientific Committee reiterated its recommendation for initiating studies on ringed seals on sea ice in offshore areas, for addressing importance of pack-ice breeding, especially in the present context of climatic changes and subsequent changes in ice condition and cover.

Grey seal Faroes The Scientific Committee reiterated its recommendation that immediate effort be undertaken to obtain better information on the nature and impact on the take in the Faroes, and to obtain information on breeding sites. Iceland The Scientific Committee recommended Iceland to make available the new data on age composition of the catch. Norway The Scientific Committee reiterated its recommendation on the quota level in Norway, estimated non-sustainable, but commended that a management plan was on its way and recommended that it should be presented to NAMMCO for evaluation.

Harbour seal Greenland The Scientific Committee reiterated its recommendation of a total ban on hunt for this species. Iceland

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The Scientific Committee reiterated its recommendation for a formal assessment of the stock and the establishment of clear management objectives. It also renewed its recommendation from the last meeting about collecting information on the by-catch. Iceland and Norway The Scientific Committee recommended that both countries ensure better information on by-catch and on the proportion of direct catch and by-catch and their age composition.

Walrus Greenland The Scientific Committee reiterated its recommendation that progress be made on the old catch series, which accounts for takes up to 2006. This needs to be done, since the data are required for a reliable assessment.

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SECTION 3 - SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE