National Progress Reports Japan – 2020 & 2019

NAMMCO/28/NPR/JP-2020-2019

NAMMCO ANNUAL MEETING 28 22-25 March 2021 Online

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

DOCUMENT NPR/ NATIONAL PROGRESS REPORTS JAPAN – 2020 & 2019 JP-2020-2019

Submitted by Japan Action requested For information

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

Japan. Progress report on large cetacean research, April 2019 to March 2020

COMPILED BY SATOKO INOUE Institute of Cetacean Research, 4-5 Toyomi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan

This document summarizes the data and samples of large cetacean, which were collected by the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (NRIFSF) and Fisheries Agency of Japan (FAJ) from April 2019 to March 2020 and austral summer season 2019/20. Sighting data for abundance estimates of large cetaceans were collected in the western North Pacific, the Gulf of Alaska and the Antarctic during systematic sighting surveys. During the surveys, photo-id, biopsy and satellite tracking experiments on large cetaceans were also conducted. A large number of biological data and samples were collected during the last surveys of the New Scientific Whale Research Program in the western North Pacific (NEWREP-NP) and commercial whaling in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Species and figures of bycatch and stranding of large cetaceans are based on the reports of prefecture governments to the FAJ, which compile reports from individual fishermen, fishery cooperative associations and the general public. Data and samples collected are being analyzed for contributing to the stock assessment and management of large cetaceans in the North Pacific.

1. SIGHTING DATA Dedicated sighting survey under the program Japanese Abundance and Stock structure Surveys in the Antarctic (JASS-A) in the Southern Ocean in the austral summer season 2019/20 (vessel: Yushin-Maru No.2).

No. of schools/No. Species Date (research period) Local area Contact person of individuals Blue whale Area IIIW + Transit 22/24 Fin whale Area IIIW + Transit 81/150 Sei whale Transit 1/1 T. Isoda (ICR) Antarctic minke whale 19 Dec/19 – 1 Mar/20 Area IIIW + Transit 124/211 [email protected] Humpback whale Area IIIW + Transit 102/191 Sperm whale Area IIIW + Transit 14/15 Southern bottlenose whale Area IIIW + Transit 9/30

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

Dedicated sighting surveys under national program in the western North Pacific in 2019 and 2020 (vessels: Yushin-Maru, Yushin-Maru No.2, Yushin-Maru No.3 and Kaiyo-Maru No.7).

Date No. of schools/No. Species Local area Contact person (research period) of individuals 10 May – 4 Jun/19 Western North Pacific 4/5 Blue whale 18 Aug – 21 Sep/19 Western North Pacific 1/1 8 Oct – 17 Nov/19 Western North Pacific 2/2 10 May – 4 Jun/19 Western North Pacific 11/16 11 May – 25 Jun/19 Sea of Japan 12/21 Fin whale 18 Aug – 21 Sep/19 Western North Pacific 2/2 8 Oct – 17 Nov/19 Western North Pacific 22/38 11 Feb – 13 Mar/20 Western North Pacific + Transit 4/4 10 May – 4 Jun/19 Western North Pacific 8/13 18 Aug – 21 Sep/19 Transit 1/1 Sei whale K. Matsuoka (ICR) 8 Oct – 17 Nov/19 Western North Pacific 28/38 [email protected] 11 Feb – 13 Mar/20 Western North Pacific 7/14 10 May – 4 Jun/19 Western North Pacific 48/61 18 Aug – 21 Sep/19 Western North Pacific + Transit 68/93 Bryde’s whale 8 Oct – 17 Nov/19 Western North Pacific 37/42 11 Feb – 13 Mar/20 Western North Pacific + Transit 8/8 10 May – 4 Jun/19 Western North Pacific + Transit 3/3 Common minke whale 11 May – 25 Jun/19 Sea of Japan + Transit 39/45 8 Oct – 17 Nov/19 Western North Pacific 1/1 10 May – 4 Jun/19 Western North Pacific + Transit 40/55 Humpback whale 11 May – 25 Jun/19 Sea of Japan 1/1

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

8 Oct – 17 Nov/19 Western North Pacific 26/42 11 Feb – 13 Mar/20 Western North Pacific + Transit 19/32 Sperm whale 10 May – 4 Jun/19 Western North Pacific + Transit 95/259 18 Aug – 21 Sep/19 Western North Pacific + Transit 35/100 8 Oct – 17 Nov/19 Western North Pacific 41/107 11 Feb – 13 Mar/20 Western North Pacific + Transit 11/15

Dedicated sighting survey under the program International Whaling Commission-Pacific Ocean Whale and Ecosystem Research (IWC-POWER) in the North Pacific (vessel: Yushin-Maru No.2).

No. of schools/No. Species Date (research period) Local area Contact person of individuals Gray whale Gulf of Alaska 6/15 Blue whale Gulf of Alaska + Transit 19/21 Fin whale Gulf of Alaska + Transit 266/458 K. Matsuoka (ICR) Sei whale 6 Jul – 26 Sep/19 Gulf of Alaska + Transit 26/43 [email protected] Common minke whale Gulf of Alaska + Transit 6/6 Humpback whale Gulf of Alaska + Transit 173/402 Sperm whale Gulf of Alaska + Transit 50/61

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

Dedicated sighting survey on small cetacean in the western North Pacific in 2019 (vessel: Kaiyo-Maru No.7).

No. of schools/No. Species Date (research period) Local area Contact person of individuals N. P. right whale 1/1 H. Yoshida (NRIFSF) Bryde’s whale 22 May – 8 Jul/19 Western North Pacific 18/26 [email protected] Sperm whale 6/15

2. MARKING DATA 2.1. Natural marking data JASS-A survey-Antarctic in 2019/20 No. of individuals Species Feature Local area Contact person photo identified Blue whale Head, dorsal, lateral marking 20 T. Isoda (ICR) Area IIIW + Transit Humpback whale Fluke, dorsal marking 14 [email protected]

National dedicated sighting-western North Pacific in 2019 and 2020 No. of individuals Species Feature Local area Contact person photo identified Blue whale Head, dorsal, lateral marking Western North Pacific 8 K. Matsuoka (ICR) Western North Pacific 25 Humpback whale Fluke, dorsal fin [email protected] Sea of Japan 1

IWC-POWER dedicated sighting-North Pacific in 2019 No. of individuals Species Feature Local area Contact person photo identified Gray whale Lateral marking 6 K. Matsuoka (ICR) Gulf of Alaska Blue whale Head, dorsal, lateral marking 16 [email protected]

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

Fin whale Lateral marking 51 Humpback whale Fluke, dorsal fin 30

2.2. Telemetry data JASS-A survey-Antarctic in 2019/20 No. of individuals Species Tag type Local area Contact person tagged Fin whale Satellite 10 K. Konishi (ICR) Area IIIW Antarctic minke whale Satellite 8 [email protected]

National dedicated sighting-western North Pacific in 2019 and 2020 No. of individuals Species Tag type Local area Contact person tagged Blue whale Satellite 1 Fin whale Satellite 6 K. Konishi (ICR) Western North Pacific Sei whale Satellite 14 [email protected] Bryde’s whale Satellite 1

3. BIOPSY SAMPLES JASS-A survey-Antarctic in 2019/20 Species Local area No. of individuals photo identified Contact person Blue whale 10 T. Isoda (ICR) Humpback whale Area IIIW 11 [email protected] Antarctic minke whale 8

National dedicated sighting-western North Pacific in 2019 and 2020 Species Local area No. of individuals photo identified Contact person Blue whale 5 Fin whale 7 K. Matsuoka (ICR) Sei whale Western North Pacific 5 [email protected] Common minke whale 1 Humpback whale 3

IWC-POWER dedicated sighting-western North Pacific in 2019 Species Local area No. of individuals photo identified Contact person Gray whale 2 Blue whale 12 K. Matsuoka (ICR) Fin whale Western North Pacific 45 [email protected] Sei whale 4 Humpback whale 12

Dedicated sighting survey on small cetacean-western North Pacific in 2019 Species Local area No. of individuals photo identified Contact person H. Yoshida (NRIFSF) N. P. right whale Western North Pacific 1 [email protected]

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

4. DIRECT CATCHES OF CETACEANS 4.1. Biological samples from scientific permits NEWREP-NP coastal component (Ayukawa in spring) (2019) No. of Species Area Samples and data Contact person individuals Common Western Body length and sex 20 T. Isoda (ICR) minke whale North Pacific External body proportion 20 [email protected] Photographic record and external character 20 Diatom film record 20 Body scar record 20 Record of external parasites 20 Measurements of blubber thickness (five points) 20 Body weight 20 Skin tissues for DNA analysis 20 Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for heavy metal 20 analysis Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for organochlorine 20 analysis Muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, blubber, heart and 20 ventral groove for various analysis Urine for various analysis 4 Collection of blood plasma 13 Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and 9 histological sample Uterine horn; measurements and endometrium sample 9 Collection of ovary 9 Testis and epididymis; weight and histological sample 11 Stomach contents and convenient record 20 Volume and weight of stomach content in each 20 compartment Observation of marine debris in stomach 20 Collection of stomach contents for feeding study 18 Earplug for age determination 20 Eye lens for age determination 20 Baleen plate measurements (length and breadth) 20 Photographic record of baleen plate series 20 Length of baleen series 20 Collection of baleen plate 20 Vertebral epiphyses sample 4 Number of ribs 20 Skull measurement (length and breadth) 20

NEWREP-NP coastal component (Hachinohe in spring) (2019) No. of Species Area Samples and data Contact person individuals Common Western Body length and sex 27 T. Isoda (ICR) minke whale North Pacific External body proportion 27 [email protected] Photographic record and external character 27 Diatom film record 27 Body scar record 27 Record of external parasites 27 Measurements of blubber thickness (five points) 27 Body weight 27 Skin tissues for DNA analysis 27

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for heavy metal 27 analysis Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for organochlorine 27 analysis Muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, blubber, heart and 27 ventral groove for various analysis Urine for various analysis 13 Collection of blood plasma 23 Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and 11 histological sample Uterine horn; measurements and endometrium sample 11 Collection of ovary 11 Foetal sex (identified by visual observation) 1 Photographic record of foetus 1 Foetal length and weight 1 Foetal skin tissues for DNA analysis 1 Collection of whole body of foetus 1 Testis and epididymis; weight and histological sample 16 Stomach contents and convenient record 27 Volume and weight of stomach content in each 27 compartment Observation of marine debris in stomach 27 Collection of stomach contents for feeding study 21 Earplug for age determination 27 Eye lens for age determination 27 Baleen plate measurements (length and breadth) 27 Photographic record of baleen plate series 27 Length of baleen series 27 Collection of baleen plate 27 Vertebral epiphyses sample 13 Number of ribs 27 Skull measurement (length and breadth) 27

NEWREP-NP coastal component (Abashiri in summer) (2019) No. of Species Area Samples and data Contact person individuals Common Southern Body length and sex 32 H. Yoshida (NRIFSF) minke whale Okhotsk Sea External body proportion 32 [email protected] Photographic record and external character 32 Diatom film record 32 Body scar record 32 Record of external parasites 32 Measurements of blubber thickness (five points) 30 Body weight 32 Skin tissues for DNA analysis 32 Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for heavy metal 32 analysis Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for organochlorine 32 analysis Muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, blubber, heart and 31 ventral groove for various analysis Urine for various analysis 7 Collection of blood plasma 24 Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and 27 histological sample Uterine horn; measurements and endometrium sample 26

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

Collection of ovary 27 Foetal sex (identified by visual observation) 16 Photographic record of foetus 16 Foetal length and weight 11 Foetal skin tissues for DNA analysis 15 Muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, blubber, heart and 6 ventral groove of foetus for various analysis Eye lens of foetus for age determination 6 Collection of whole body of foetus 2 Testis and epididymis; weight and histological sample 5 Stomach contents and convenient record 32 Volume and weight of stomach content in each 29 compartment Observation of marine debris in stomach 32 Collection of stomach contents for feeding study 31 Earplug for age determination 32 Eye lens for age determination 32 Baleen plate with V-shape notch on its outer edge for 1 age determination Baleen plate measurements (length and breadth) 32 Photographic record of baleen plate series 32 Length of baleen series 32 Collection of baleen plate 32 Vertebral epiphyses sample 32 Number of ribs 32 Skull measurement (length and breadth) 31

4.2. Biological samples from commercial whaling Offshore component (2019) No. of Contact Species Area Samples and data individuals person/institute Sei whale Western Body length and sex 25 T. Tamura (ICR) North Pacific Photographic record and external character 25 [email protected] Record of external parasites 25 Measurements of blubber thickness (two points) 25 H. Yoshida (NRIFSF) Body weight 25 [email protected] Skin tissues for DNA analysis 25 Muscle, liver and blubber for various analysis 25 FAJ Collection of blood plasma 25 Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and 20 histological sample Collection of ovary 20 Foetal sex (identified by visual observation) 7 Photographic record of foetus 7 Foetal length and weight 7 Foetal skin tissues for DNA analysis 7 Eye lens of foetus for age determination 4 Testis; weight and histological sample 5 Stomach contents and convenient record 25 Observation of marine debris in stomach 25 Earplug for age determination 25 Eye lens for age determination 25 Bryde’s Body length and sex 187 whale Photographic record and external character 187 Record of external parasites 187

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

Measurements of blubber thickness (two points) 187 Body weight 187 Skin tissues for DNA analysis 187 Muscle, liver and blubber for various analysis 187 Collection of blood plasma 170 Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and 105 histological sample Collection of ovary 105 Foetal sex (identified by visual observation) 21 Photographic record of foetus 21 Foetal length and weight 21 Foetal skin tissues for DNA analysis 21 Eye lens of foetus for age determination 5 Testis; weight and histological sample 82 Stomach contents and convenient record 187 Observation of marine debris in stomach 187 Earplug for age determination 187 Eye lens for age determination 186 Common Body length and sex 11 minke whale Photographic record and external character 11 Record of external parasites 11 Measurements of blubber thickness (two points) 11 Body weight 11 Skin tissues for DNA analysis 11 Muscle, liver and blubber for various analysis 11 Collection of blood plasma 9 Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and 1 histological sample Collection of ovary 1 Foetal sex (identified by visual observation) 0 Photographic record of foetus 0 Foetal length and weight 0 Foetal skin tissues for DNA analysis 0 Eye lens of foetus for age determination 0 Testis; weight and histological sample 10 Stomach contents and convenient record 11 Observation of marine debris in stomach 11 Earplug for age determination 11 Eye lens for age determination 11

Coastal component (Kushiro) (2019) No. of Contact Species Area Samples and data individuals person/institute Common Western Body length and sex 33 T. Tamura (ICR) minke whale North Pacific External body proportion 21 [email protected] Photographic record and external character 33 Body scar record 33 H. Yoshida (NRIFSF) Measurements of blubber thickness (two points) 33 [email protected] Skin tissues for DNA analysis 33 Muscle, liver and blubber for various analysis 33 FAJ Mammary grand; lactation status and measurement 9 Uterine horn; measurements and endometrium sample 2 Collection of ovary 6 Foetal sex (identified by visual observation) 2 Photographic record of foetus 2 Foetal length and weight 2

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

Foetal skin tissues for DNA analysis 2 Eye lens of foetus for age determination 1 Testis; weight and histological sample 24 Stomach contents and convenient record 33 Earplug for age determination 33 Eye lens for age determination 33 Baleen plate for age determination (body length ≤ 6 2 m)

5. FISHERIES BYCATCHES OF CETACEANS No. of Species Location 1) Fate 2) Gear 3) Target fish species 4) Source or contact animals Common minke whale 6 Hokkaido K FPN 6 Aomori K FPN 14 Iwate K FPN 6 Miyagi K FPN 1 Akita K FPN 4 Chiba K FPN 3 Niigata K FPN 9 Toyama K FPN 20 Ishikawa K FPN 4 Fukui K FPN 1 Shizuoka K FPN 2 Mie K FPN 3 Kyoto K FPN 4 Wakayama K FPN NA FAJ 1 Shimane K FPN 5 Yamaguchi K FPN 2 Kochi K FPN 10 Nagasaki K FPN 2 Miyazaki K FPN 1 Kagoshima K FPN Sei whale 1 Toyama K FPN Humpback whale 1 Chiba R FPN 1 Chiba K FPN 1 Mie K FPN 1 Yamaguchi K FPN 1 Kochi K FPN 2 Okinawa R FPN Unidentified baleen whale 1 Aomori D FPN 1) Recorded at the place of fishing gears. 2) Fate of whale: D = discarded dead or seriously injured, K = kept for sale or specimen, R = released alive 3) Described using “FAO FISHING DESCRIPTION AND CODES”, that is, stationary uncovered pound nets (FPN), set gillnets (GNS) and miscellaneous gear (MIS). 4) Target fish species: NA = not available

6. STRANDING OF CETACEANS

Species No. of stranding Location (prefecture) Source or contact Common minke whale 5 Hokkaido 1 Toyama FAJ 1 Ishikawa 2 Yamaguchi

Japan ProgRep. Large Cetacean/2020

1 Miyazaki Sei whale 1 Chiba Bryde’s whale 1 Tokyo Humpback whale 1 Miyagi 1 Kanagawa 1 Shizuoka 1 Mie 1 Kochi 1 Nagasaki Gray whale 1 Kanagawa Sperm whale 2 Hokkaido 1 Iwate 1 Miyagi 1 Chiba 4 Kagoshima Unidentified baleen whale 1 Hokkaido

7. PUBLICATIONS (2019-2020) Cunen, C., Walløe, L. and Hjort, N.L. 2020. Focused model selection for linear mixed models with an application to whale ecology. Ann. Appl. Stat. 14 (2): 872–904. Goto, M., Kitakado, T. and Pastene, L.A. 2020. A preliminary study of epigenetic estimation of age of the Antarctic minke whale Balaenoptera bonaerensis. Cetacean Population Studies 2: 5–14. Inoue, S., Yasunaga, G. and Pastene, L.A. 2019. Comparison of progesterone concentrations in blubber and plasma among female Antarctic minke whales of known reproductive status. Fish Sci 85 (6): 971–977. Kawasaki, K., Mikami, M., Goto, M., Shindo, J., Amano, M. and Ishiyama, M. 2020. The evolution of unusually small amelogenin genes in cetaceans; Pseudogenization, X–Y gene conversion, and feeding strategy. Journal of Molecular Evolution 88 (2): 122–135. Konishi, K., Isoda, T., Bando, T., Minamikawa, S. and Kleivane, L. 2020. Antarctic minke whales find ice gaps along the ice edge in foraging grounds of the Indo-Pacific sector (60°E and 140°E) of the Southern Ocean. Polar Biol 43 (4): 343–357. Matsuoka, K. and Hakamada, T. 2020. Density distribution of several major whale species in the Indo- Pacific region of Antarctic using JARPA and JARPAII sighting data obtained through 1987/88- 2008/09 seasons. Cetacean Population Studies 2: 15–38. Pastene, L.A., Acevedo, J. and Branch, T.A. 2020. Morphometric analysis of Chilean blue whales and implications for their taxonomy. Marine Mammal Science 36 (1): 116–135. Takahashi, M., Kato, H. and Kitakado, T. 2019. Sex prediction by machine learning methods for small sample sizes: a case study of cranial measurements of killer whales (Orcinus orca). Mammalian Science 59 (1): 67–78 (in Japanese). Tanabe, A., Shimizu, R., Osawa, Y., Suzuki, M., Ito, S., Goto, M., Pastene, L.A., Fujise, Y. and Sahara, H. 2020. Age estimation by DNA methylation in Antarctic minke whales. Fish Sci 86 (1): 35– 41. Watari, S., Murase, H., Yonezaki, S., Okazaki, M., Kiyofuji, H., Tamura, T., Hakamada, T., Kanaji, Y. and Kitakado, T. 2019. Ecosystem modeling in the western North Paciﬁc using Ecopath, with a focus on small pelagic ﬁshes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 617–618: 295–305. Yasunaga, G. and Fujise, Y. 2020. Concentration of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in three species of baleen whales in the western North Pacific. Cetacean Population Studies 2: 39–53.

INSTITUTE OF CETACEAN RESEARCH (ICR) DATA/SAMPLE OF LARGE WHALES COLLECTED IN THE PERIOD 2018/2019

ABSTRACT This document summarizes the data and samples of large cetacean collected by the ICR in 2018 and austral summer season 2018/19. Sighting data for abundance estimates of large whales were collected in the western North Pacific, Bering Sea and the Antarctic during systematic sighting surveys. During the sighting surveys, photo- id, biopsy and satellite tracking experiments of large whales were conducted. A large number of biological items were also collected during the surveys of whaling under special permit in the western North Pacific (NEWREP- NP) and the Antarctic (NEWREP-A). Data and samples collected are being analysed under the objectives of the respective research programs.

1. SIGHTING DATA (including primary and secondary sightings) NEWREP-A Dedicated sighting vessel (Yushin-Maru No.2) (2018/19) in Antarctic Area IIIE including transit

No. schools/No. Target species Date (research period) Area Contact person individuals Blue whale Area IIIE + Transit 21/33 Fin whale Area IIIE + Transit 224/517 T. Mogoe (ICR) Antarctic minke whale 25 Nov/18 – 3 Mar/19 Area IIIE 152/264 [email protected] Humpback whale Area IIIE + Transit 608/975 Sperm whale Area IIIE + Transit 80/80

NEWREP-A Sighting and sampling vessels (Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.3) (2018/19) in Antarctic Area III including transit

1 No. schools / No. Target species Date (research period) Area Contact person individuals Blue whale Area III + Transit 14/17 Fin whale Area III 72/152 Antarctic minke whale Area III 362/602 T. Bando (ICR) Humpback whale 25 Nov/18 – 12 Mar/19 Area III + Transit 402/622 [email protected] Sei whale Transit 6/9 Southern right whale Transit 5/8 Sperm whale Area III + Transit 34/58

NEWREP-NP Dedicated sighting vessels (Yushin-Maru No.2 and Kaiyo-Maru No.7) (2018) in western North Pacific, southern Okhotsk Sea and Sea of Japan including transit

No. schools/No. Target species Date (research period) Area Contact person individuals Western North Pacific 2/3 Fin whale Southern Okhotsk Sea + Transit 57/105 Sea of Japan 1/1 Sei whale Western North Pacific 3/3 Bryde’s whale Western North Pacific 8/10 K. Matsuoka (ICR) 10 May/18 –27 June/18 Western North Pacific + Transit 9/9 [email protected] Common minke whale Southern Okhotsk Sea + Transit 17/18 Sea of Japan 19/20 Western North Pacific 25/31 Humpback whale Southern Okhotsk Sea 1/1 Sperm whale Western North Pacific 7/13

2 NEWREP-NP Sighting and sampling vessels (Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.3) (2018) in western North Pacific

No. schools/No. Target species Date (research period) Area Contact person individuals Blue whale 8/11 Fin whale 44/47 Sei whale 289/413 K. Konishi (ICR) Bryde's whale 18 May/18 – 15 Aug/18 Western North Pacific 37/43 [email protected] Common minke whale 48/50 Humpback whale 34/38 Sperm whale 168/303

IWC-POWER Dedicated sighting vessel (Yushin-Maru No.2) (2018) in Bering Sea including transit

3 No. schools/No. Target species Date (research period) Area Contact person individuals Gray whale Bering Sea + Transit 27/88 North Pacific right whale Bering Sea + Transit 3/3 Blue whale Transit 8/12 Fin whale Bering Sea + Transit 135/199 K. Matsuoka (ICR) 3 Jul/18 – 23 Sep/18 Sei whale Transit 5/7 [email protected] Common minke whale Bering Sea + Transit 17/17 Humpback whale Bering Sea + Transit 86/122 Sperm whale Bering Sea + Transit 35/36

2. PHOTO ID DATA NEWREP-A Dedicated sighting vessels (Yushin-Maru No.2 and Kaiyo-Maru No.7) (2018/19) in Antarctic Area IIIE including transit

Target species Feature Area No. photo- id'd Contact person Blue whale Lateral marking Area IIIE + Transit 24 T. Mogoe (ICR) Humpback whale Fluke, Lateral marking Area IIIE 22 [email protected]

NEWREP-A Sighting and sampling vessels (Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.3) (2018/19) in Antarctic Area III including transit

Target species Feature Area No. photo- id'd Contact person Southern right whale Head Transit 8 T. Bando (ICR) Humpback whale Fluke, Lateral marking Area III 36 [email protected]

NEWREP-NP Dedicated sighting vessels (Yushin-Maru No.2 and Kaiyo-Maru No.7) (2018) in western North Pacific, southern Okhotsk Sea and Sea of Japan including transit

Target species Feature Area No. photo-id'd Contact person K. Matsuoka (ICR) Humpback whale Fluke, Dorsal fin Western North Pacific 10 [email protected]

NEWREP-NP Sampling and sighting vessels (Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.3) (2018) in western North Pacific

Target species Feature Area No. photo-id'd Contact person Dorsal fin, head, lateral K. Konishi (ICR) Blue whale Western North Pacific 3 marking, others [email protected]

IWC-POWER Dedicated sighting vessel (Yushin-Maru No.2) (2018) in Bering Sea including transit

Target species Feature Area No. photo-id'd Contact person Gray whale Lateral marking Bering Sea 41 N.P. right whale Head, Fluke Bering Sea 3 Blue whale Dorsal fin, Lateral marking Transit 8 K. Matsuoka (ICR) Fin whale Fluke, Dorsal fin Bering Sea + Transit 69 [email protected] Humpback whale Fluke, Dorsal fin Bering Sea 39 Sperm whale Dorsal fin Bering Sea + Transit 4

3. TELEMETRY/ARTIFICIAL MARKING DATA Satellite tracking NEWREP-NP Sampling and sighting vessels (Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.3) (2018) in western North Pacific

No. of available Target species Area No. attached Contact person position data Sei whale 8 8 K. Konishi (ICR) Western North Pacific Common minke whale 1 1 [email protected]

4 NEWREP-A Sighting and sampling vessel (Yushin-Maru) (2018/19) in Antarctic Area III including transit

No. Successfully Target species Area Tag type Contact person Deployed T. Bando (ICR) Antarctic minke whale Area III Satellite 1 [email protected]

4. TISSUE/BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES COLLECTED Biopsy samples NEWREP-A Dedicated sighting vessel (Yushin-Maru No.2) (2018/19) in Antarctic Area IIIE including transit

Target species Area No. collected Contact person Blue whale Area IIIE + Transit 9 T. Mogoe (ICR) Fin whale Area IIIE 2 [email protected] Humpback whale Area IIIE 11

NEWREP-A Sighting and sampling vessels (Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.3) (2018/19) in Antarctic Area III including transit

Target species Area No. collected Contact person Humpback whale Area III + Transit 29 Southern right whale Transit 8 T. Bando (ICR) Fin whale Area III 2 [email protected] Antarctic minke whale Area III 1

NEWREP-NP Dedicated sighting vessels (Yushin-Maru No.2 and Kaiyo-Maru No.7) (2018) in western North Pacific, southern Okhotsk Sea and Sea of Japan including transit

Target species Area No. collected Contact person Western North Pacific 1 Fin whale Southern Okhotsk Sea 1 K. Matsuoka (ICR) Sei whale Western North Pacific 2 [email protected] Humpback whale Western North Pacific 1 Common minke whale Sea of Japan 3

NEWREP-NP Sighting and sampling vessels (Yushin-Maru and Yushin-Maru No.3) (2018) in western North Pacific

Target species Area No. collected Contact person Blue whale 1 K. Konishi (ICR) Sei whale Western North Pacific 7 [email protected] Common minke whale 1

IWC-POWER Dedicated sighting vessel (Yushin-Maru No.2) (2018) in Bering Sea including transit

Target species Area No. collected Contact person Gray whale Bering Sea 7 N.P. right whale Bering Sea + Transit 3 K. Matsuoka (ICR) Blue whale Transit 6 [email protected] Fin whale Bering Sea + Transit 24 Humpback whale Bering Sea 29

Biological samples from scientific permits NEWREP-NP Offshore component (2018)

No. Species Area Samples and data Contact person collected Body length and sex 134 External body proportion 134 Photographic record and external character 134 Diatom film record 134 Standard measurements of blubber thickness (five points) 133 Detailed measurements of blubber thickness (eleven points) 1 Body weight 134 Body weight by parts 1 Blubber tissues for DNA study 134 Blubber, muscle, liver and kidney tissues for organochlorines 134 analysis Tissue for nutritional component analysis 6 Lung tissue for atmospheric analysis 10 Tissues for various analysis 134 Mammary gland; lactation status and measurement 71 Collection of ovary 71 Photographic record of foetus 35 Foetal sex (identified by visual observation) 35 Sei whale Foetal length and weight 35 Foetal blubber tissues for DNA study 35 Testis; weight and histological sample 63 Collection of plasma sample 120 Stomach content and conventional record 134 Weight of stomach content in each compartment 134 Stomach contents for feeding study 79 Record of external parasites 134 Record of internal parasites 134 Earplug for age determination 134 Lens for age determination 134 Vertebral epiphyses sample 134 Western Skull measurements (length and breadth) 128 K. Konishi (ICR) North Pacific Observation of marine debris in stomach 134 [email protected] Marine debris in stomach 10 Muscle and liver tissues for stable isotope 134 Baleen plate for stable isotope 27 Blubber and muscle tissues for lipid content 134 Body length and sex 43 External body proportion 43 Photographic record and external character 43 Diatom film record 43 Standard measurements of blubber thickness (five points) 42 Detailed measurements of blubber thickness (eleven points) 1 Body weight 43 Body weight by parts 1 Blubber tissues for DNA study 43 Blubber, muscle, liver and kidney tissues for organochlorines 43 analysis Tissue for nutritional component analysis 6 Common Lung tissue for atmospheric analysis 10 minke whale Tissues for various analysis 43

Mammary gland; lactation status and measurement 9 Collection of ovary 9 Photographic record of foetus 6 Foetal sex (identified by visual observation) 6 Foetal length and weight 6 Foetal blubber tissues for DNA study 6 Testis; weight and histological sample 34 Collection of plasma sample 40 Stomach content and conventional record 43 Weight of stomach content in each compartment 43 Stomach contents for feeding study 42 Record of external parasites 43

6 Record of internal parasites 43 Earplug for age determination 43 Lens for age determination 43 Vertebral epiphyses sample 43 Skull measurements (length and breadth) 43 Observation of marine debris in stomach 43 Muscle and liver tissues for stable isotope 43 Baleen plate for stable isotope 43 Blubber and muscle tissues for lipid content 43

NEWREP-NP Coastal component (Abashiri in summer) (2018)

No. Species Area Samples and Data Contact person collected Body length and sex 47 External body proportion 47 Photographic record and external character 47 Diatom film record 47 Body scar record 47 Measurements of blubber thickness (five points) 47 Whole body weight 46 Skin tissues for DNA study 47 Muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, blubber, heart and ventral groove for 47 various analysis Urine for various analysis 13 Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for heavy metal analysis 47 Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for organochlorine analysis 47 Collection of blood plasma 39 Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and histological 31 sample Common Southern H. Yoshida (NRIFSF) Uterine horn; measurements and endometrium sample 31 minke whale Okhotsk Sea [email protected] Collection of ovary 31 Testis weight and histological sample 16 Stomach contents and convenient record 47 Volume and weight of stomach content in each compartment 47 Observation of marine debris in stomach 47 Collection of stomach contents for feeding study 47 Record of external parasites 47 Earplug for age determination 47 Eye lens for age determination 47 Baleen plate measurements (length and breadth) 47 Photographic record of baleen plate series 47 Length of baleen series 47 Vertebral epiphyses sample 39 Number of ribs 47 Skull measurement (length and breadth) 46 Measurements of flipper pigment 21

NEWREP-NP Coastal component (Ayukawa in spring) (2018)

No. Species Area Samples and Data Contact person collected Body length and sex 18 External body proportion 18 Photographic record and external character 18 Diatom film record 18 Body scar record 18 Measurements of blubber thickness (five points) 18 Whole body weight 18 Common Western Body weight by parts 0 T. Isoda (ICR) minke whale North Pacific Skin tissues for DNA study 18 [email protected] Muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, blubber, heart and ventral groove for 18 various analysis Urine for various analysis 0 Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for heavy metal analysis 18 Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for organochlorine analysis 18 Collection of blood plasma 13 Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and histological 10

7 sample Uterine horn; measurements and endometrium sample 10 Collection of ovary 10 Testis weight and histological sample 8 Stomach contents and convenient record 18 Volume and weight of stomach content in each compartment 18 Observation of marine debris in stomach 18 Collection of stomach contents for feeding study 17 Record of external parasites 18 Earplug for age determination 17 Eye lens for age determination 18 Largest baleen plate for stable isotopes 18 Baleen plate measurements (length and breadth) 18 Photographic record of baleen plate series 18 Length of baleen series 18 Vertebral epiphyses sample 5 Number of ribs 18 Skull measurement (length and breadth) 18 Skull measurement (detail) 12 Measurements of flipper pigment 18

NEWREP-NP Coastal component (Hachinohe in spring) (2018)

No. Species Area Samples and Data Contact person collected Body length and sex 33 External body proportion 33 Photographic record and external character 33 Diatom film record 33 Body scar record 33 Measurements of blubber thickness (five points) 33 Whole body weight 33 Body weight by parts 0 Skin tissues for DNA study 33 Muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, blubber, heart and ventral groove for 33 various analysis Urine for various analysis 5 Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for heavy metal analysis 33 Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for organochlorine analysis 33 Collection of blood plasma 22 Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and histological 14 sample Common Western Uterine horn; measurements and endometrium sample 14 T. Isoda (ICR) minke whale North Pacific Collection of ovary 14 [email protected] Testis weight and histological sample 19 Stomach contents and convenient record 33 Volume and weight of stomach content in each compartment 33 Observation of marine debris in stomach 33 Collection of stomach contents for feeding study 30 Record of external parasites 33 Earplug for age determination 33 Eye lens for age determination 33 Largest baleen plate for stable isotopes 33 Baleen plate measurements (length and breadth) 33 Photographic record of baleen plate series 33 Length of baleen series 33 Vertebral epiphyses sample 17 Number of ribs 33 Skull measurement (length and breadth) 33 Skull measurement (detail) 11 Measurements of flipper pigment 26

NEWREP-NP Coastal component (Kushiro in autumn) (2018)

No. species Area Samples and Data Contact person collected Common Western Body length and sex 29 T. Isoda (ICR) minke whale North Pacific External body proportion 29 [email protected]

8 Photographic record and external character 29 Diatom film record 29 Body scar record 29 Measurements of blubber thickness (five points) 29 Whole body weight 29 Body weight by parts 0 Skin tissues for DNA analysis 29 Muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, blubber, hart and ventral groove for 29 various analysis Urine for various analysis 5 Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for heavy metal analysis 29 Muscle, liver, kidney and blubber for organochlorine analysis 29 Collection of blood plasma 24 Mammary grand; lactation status, measurement and histological 7 sample Uterine horn; measurement and endometrium sample 7 Collection of ovary 7 Testis weight and histological sample 22 Stomach content and conventional record 29 Volume and weight of stomach content in each compartment 29 Observation of marine debris in stomach 29 Collection of stomach contents for feeding study 27 Record of external Parasites 29 Earplug for age determination 29 Eye lens for age determination 29 Largest baleen plate for stable isotopes 29 Baleen plate measurements (length and breadth) 29 Photographic record of baleen plate series 29 Length of baleen series 29 Vertebral epiphyses sample 16 Number of ribs 29 Skull measurement (length and breadth) 29 Skull measurement (detail) 13 Measurements of flipper pigment 6

NEWREP-A (2018/19)

No. Species Area Samples and data Contact person collected Body length and sex 333 External body proportion 333 Photographic record of external character 333 Diatom film record 333 Measurements of blubber thickness 333 Body weight 333 Body weight by parts 5 Blubber tissues for DNA study 333 Tissues for chemical analysis 333 Tissues for physiological study 333 Mammary gland; lactation status and measurement 147 Antarctic Area III Collection of ovary 147 T. Bando (ICR) minke whale Foetal number, sex, length and weight 77* [email protected]

Collection of plasma sample 242 Measurement of testis weight 186 Collection of testis tissue 186 Stomach content, freshness and weight 333 Stomach contents for feeding study 48 Record of internal and external parasites 333 Earplug for age determination 333 Ocular lens for age determination 333 Baleen plate for age determination 64 Vertebral epiphyses sample 269 Skull measurements (length and breadth) 325 *Including seven foetuses of sex unidentified.

9 Japan. Progress report on small cetacean research, April 2018 to March 2019, with statistical data for the calendar year 2018

COMPILED BY HIDEYOSHI YOSHIDA National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency 2-12-4 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-8648, Japan

This report summarizes statistical data on small cetacean fisheries in 2018 (calendar year) as well as researches conducted during the period from April 2018 to March 2019 by the National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries (hereafter NRIFSF) of the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (hereafter FRA) and the Fisheries Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Government of Japan (hereafter FAJ) with the cooperation of other related organizations. This report covers information on small cetaceans which is not included in the “National Progress Report”, https://portal.iwc.int/progressreportspublic (submitted to the IWC/SC/68a meeting). The Government of Japan considers management of small cetaceans is outside the competence of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.

1. SPECIES AND STOCKS STUDIED Common name Scientific name Area/stock(s) Items referred to Off Pacific coast, Japan Sea, 2.1.1, 3.1.3, 3.2, 5.1, 5.2.2, 5.3, Dall’s porpoise Phocoenoides dalli and Okhotsk Sea 5.4, 8.1, 8.2 Finless porpoise Neophocaena asiaeorientalis Coastal waters of Japan 2.1.1, 5.2.2, 5.3, 8.1 Lagenorhynchus Off Pacific coast, and Japan Pacific white-sided dolphin 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2.2, 5.3 obliquidens Sea Striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba Off Pacific coast 2.1.2, 4.2, 4.4, 5.1, 5.3 Pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuate Off Pacific coast 5.1 Off Pacific coast, and East 2.1.2, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.2, 4.2, 4.4, Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncates China Sea 5.1, 5.2.2, 5.3 Rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis Off Pacific coast 5.1, 5.3 Melon-headed whale Peponocephala electra Off Pacific coast 2.1.1, 4.2, 4.4, 5.1, 5.3 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 4.2, 4.4, 5.1, 5.2.2, Risso’s dolphin Grampus griseus Off pacific coast, Japan Sea 5.3 Globicephala Western North Pacific, and Short-finned pilot whale 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 4.2, 4.4, 5.1, 5.3 macrorhynchus East China Sea False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens Off Pacific coast 4.2, 5.1, 5.2.2 Killer whale Orcinus orca Off Pacific coast 2.1.2, 8.1 Off Pacific coast, Japan Sea Baird’s beaked whale Berardius bairdii 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 4.2, 5.1, 5.3, 8.1 and Okhotsk Sea Additional species - Around Japan, others 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 5.2.2, 5.3

1 Japan ProgRep. Small cetacean/2019

2. SIGHTINGS DATA 2.1 Field work 2.1.1 Systematic The NRIFSF and FAJ conducted a dedicated shipboard sighting survey in the Northeastern Japan Sea, using the research vessel with a top barrel. During the cruise, the following small cetaceans were sighted. Sightings of large cetaceans were described in the National Progress Report submitted to the IWC/SC/68a meeting.

Table 1. Small cetaceans sighted by dedicated shipboard surveys conducted during the period of April 2018 to March 2019. Species Date Area No. of sightings Contact institute Baird’s beaked whale 22/06/18-03/08/18 Northeastern Japan Sea 37

Risso’s dolphin 22/06/18-03/08/18 Northeastern Japan Sea 2 NRIFSF Pacific white-sided 22/06/18-03/08/18 Northeastern Japan Sea 1 dolphin No. of sightings indicates number of schools sighted. These sightings were made by the sighting survey for Baird’s beaked whales conducted in the Northeastern Japan Sea, from 22 June to 3 August 2018, using the research vessel Kaiyo-maru No.7.

An aerial sighting survey was conducted to obtain information on distribution and abundance of cetaceans inhabiting around Japanese waters. During the period of 9 to 12 July 2018, Yu Kanaji, Hiroko Sasaki, Hikari Maeda, and Hideyoshi Yoshida (NRIFSF) participated in the sighting survey at waters off Pacific coast of Eastern Japan. They used a small plane equipped with twin engines and babble windows, and flew at the targeted speed of 80 knots and targeted altitude of 700 feet. During 936.2 nautical miles of survey efforts, following species were encountered: two schools (80 animals) of the common dolphin, 8 (86) of the Risso’s dolphin, 1 (30) of the short-finned pilot whale, 1 (300) of the melon-headed whale, 1 (4) of the Dall’s porpoise, 1 (1) of the finless porpoise, and 1 (1) of unidentified species of Ziphiidae.

2.1.2 Opportunistic, platforms of opportunity Opportunistic sighting data have been collected during small-type whaling and dolphin fishery operations. They mainly consist of sightings of target species within the fishing grounds (e.g. the Baird’s beaked whale, the short- finned pilot whale, and the Risso’s, bottlenose, striped, spotted and Pacific white-sided dolphin). During the NEWREP-NP coastal component off Abashiri, northeast Japan, conducted in August 2018, sightings of 11 schools (95 animals) of the Baird’s beaked whale and of 8 schools (32animals) of the killer whale were obtained by the sampling vessels. During the multidisciplinary ecosystem survey with a focus on Antarctic krill conducted in the eastern Indian sector of the Antarctic (CCAMLR Division 58.4.1) from 16 November 2018 to 22 March 2019, sightings of three schools (15 animals) of the killer whale (including one school (9 animals) of Type C), a school (three animals) of the Cuvier's beaked whale, three schools (17 animals) of the hourglass dolphin and one school (15 animals) of the long-finned pilot whale were obtained by the R/V Kaiyo-maru.

2.2 Analyses/development of techniques Kanaji analysed sighting survey data to estimate abundance of six species of small odontocetes. Updated abundance estimates were published in the scientific journal. Kanaji and Sasaki developed habitat models using dynamic environmental variables. Base on these models, distribution patterns and abundance were estimated for cetaceans including small odontocetes.

3. MARKING DATA 3.1 Field work 3.1.1 Natural marking data Natural marking data were not collected.

2 Japan ProgRep. Small cetacean/2019

3.1.2 Artificial marking data Under the cooperation between the NRIFSF and the Taiji Whale Museum-Sylpheed ltd., 47 bottlenose dolphins caught by the Taiji dolphin drive fishery during the period from October 2018 to January 2019 were released to the sea, with the small plastic tags attached on their dorsal fin.

3.1.3 Telemetry data Kanaji and Sasaki attached smart position and temperature transmitting tags (SPOT tags, Wildlife Computers) on the dorsal fin of three bottlenose dolphins caught by the dolphin drive fishery in Taiji and released them, under cooperation with Taiji fishery cooperative union, during the period from October 2018 to January 2019.The lengths of tagging period were from 17 to 48 days. They also released four Dall’s porpoise deployed pop-up archival transmitting (PAT) tag (miniPAT, Wildlife Computers) on their body in July 2018, under the collaborative research with Tokyo University of Agriculture. These animals were incidentally caught by stationary uncovered pound nets. Two of the four tags popped up and transmitted signals. Lengths of tagging period of them were 60 and 63 days, respectively.

Table 2.1. PAT data of small cetaceans collected during the period from April 2018 to March 2019. Species Tag type No. deployed No. popped up No. retrieved Contact institute Bottlenose dolphin SPOT 3 3 0 NRIFSF Dall’s porpoise miniPAT 4 2 0 NRIFSF

3.2 Analyses/development of techniques Kanaji and Sasaki proceeded the analysis of the SPOT and miniPAT tags data, from three bottlenose dolphins and two Dall’s porpoises.

4. TISSUE/BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES COLLECTED 4.1 Biopsy samples The NRIFSF collected no biopsy samples from small cetaceans during the period from April 2018 to March 2019.

4.2 Samples from directed catches or bycatches Samples collected from small cetaceans caught by the small-type whaling and the drive fishery at Taiji during the period of April 2018 to March 2019 are shown in Table 4. The national quota of Baird's beaked whales for the mentioned period was 76 animals for small-type whaling (includes 10 animals carryover from the last year’s quota). Whaling operation was conducted from 5 June to 22 July and from 12 October to 12 November at the land station in Wadaura on the Pacific coast, from 5 June to 25 July and from 9 October to 17 November at the land station in Ayukawa on the Pacific coast, and from 15 October to 20 November at the land station in Abashiri on the Okhotsk coast. The operation at the land station in Hakodate on the Sea of Japan coast was not conducted. A total of 53 animals (one off Abashiri, 52 off the Pacific coast) were taken by five catcher boats (Seiwa-maru, Kohei-maru #8, Taisho-maru #3, Katsu-maru #7, and Sumitomo-maru #51). All the catches were examined and biological samples were taken by five researchers. The national quota of northern form short-finned pilot whales for small-type whaling was 36 animals. Fishing season was set for two boats (Kohei-maru #8 and Taisho-maru #3) in the same periods of the operations for Baird’s beaked whales, but operation was not conducted for the form. The national quota of 33 southern form short-finned pilot whales was set for the small-type whaling at the Taiji and Wadaura land stations. Two animals were taken by Sumitomo-maru #51 at the Wadaura during the operation for Baird’s beaked whales. In addition, the national quota of twenty false killer whales for small-type whaling at Taiji was set in the same periods for the southern form short-finned pilot whale operation, but operation at Taiji was not conducted.

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The surveys for animals caught by the drive fishery at Taiji was conducted to collect data and samples for life history and genetic studies, by 7 researchers during the periods from 1 September to 6 October 2018, from 10 November to 25 December 2018, and from 5 January to 28 February 2019. They examined 166 melon-headed whales, and 324 striped, 142 Risso’s, 21 bottlenose, and one Pacific white-sided dolphins. Hiroshi Ohizumi (Tokai University) collected stomach contents of 74 animals including bottlenose dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, and melon-headed whales in November and December 2018, and those of 51 Risso’s dolphins and srtriped dolphins in February 2019, caught by drive fishery at Taiji for the feeding habit study. Okinawa Prefectural Government requested fishermen to collect teeth and skin samples as a part of supervision of the fishery, from southern form short-finned pilot whales, and bottlenose dolphins which were caught by hand harpoon fishery (crossbow fishery) in Okinawa in 2018 season. Those samples will be sent to NRIFSF for age determination and genetic examinations. Sample collection of small cetaceans from bycatches by the NRIFSF was not conducted during the period from April 2018 to March 2019.

Table 4. Samples collected from small cetaceans caught by the small-type whaling and driven fishery during the period of April 2018 to March 2019. No. Archived Species Area Tissue type(s) Contact Institute Collected (Y/N) Western North To, Ma, O, U, Te, E, V, 52 Y Pacific and Sk Baird's beaked whale Okhotsk Sea To, Te, E, V, and Sk 1 Y

Southern form short- Western North To, Te, E, V, and Sk 2 Y finned pilot whale Pacific Western North Bottlenose dolphin To, Ma, O, U, Te, and Sk 16 Y Pacific NRIFSF Western North Risso's dolphin To, Ma, O, U, Te, and Sk 131 Y Pacific Western North Striped dolphin To, Ma, O, U, Te, and Sk 298 Y Pacific Western North Melon-headed whale To, Ma, O, U, Te, and Sk 161 Y Pacific Pacific white-sided Western North To, Ma, O, U, and Sk 1 Y dolphin Pacific E: epidydymis, Ma: mammary gland, O: ovaries, Sk: skin, Te: testis, To: tooth, U: uterine horn, V: vertebral epiphysis.

4.3 Samples from stranded animals Sample collection from stranded small cetaceans by the NRIFSF was not conducted during the period from April 2018 to March 2019.

4.4 Analyses/development of techniques Maeda determined ages of a total of 112 animals (southern form short-finned pilot and melon-headed whales, and bottlenose, Risso’s and striped dolphins) taken by the drive fishery at Taiji. Maeda also examined ovaries of 75 animals (southern form short-finned pilot and melon-headed whales and bottlenose, Risso’s and striped dolphins) caught by the drive fishery and investigated histological samples of testis, mammary gland, and uterine horn of a total of 91 animals (Melon-headed whales and bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins) taken by drive fishery at Taiji, for studies on sexual maturity. Yoshida carried forward the mtDNA sequence analysis in order to accumulate information on stock structure of small cetaceans around Japan, using tissue samples from 253 animals.

4 Japan ProgRep. Small cetacean/2019

5. STATISTICS FOR SMALL CETACEANS 5.1 For the calendar year 2018 For small-type whaling, the target species, fishing season, quota, catcher boats and actual catches are noted in section 4.2. Regarding the dolphin fisheries, management season has been set from 1 August to 31 July of the next year for Dall’s porpoise fisheries, and from 1 October to 30 September of the next year for other species, since 1996. The management season for fisheries in Wakayama Prefecture has been set from 1 September to 31 August of the next year. Following the guideline on IWC national progress report, the statistics on dolphin fisheries covers catches from 1 January to 31 December 2017, while FAJ manages dolphin fisheries by their own fisheries season aforementioned. Thus, in some cases, catches aggregated by calendar year may exceed the seasonal (yearly) catch in appearance, but the actual seasonal catch is well below the allocated catch quota. Direct small cetacean catches are given in Table 5 in this section by prefecture and type of fisheries. The data have been collected by the International Affairs Division of the FAJ based on reports from the prefectural governments. Catch quota for dolphin fisheries for the 2018/2019 season was 5,900 animals for dalli-type Dall's porpoises, 5,900 for truei-type Dall's porpoises, 460 for Risso's dolphins, 500 for bottlenose dolphins, 470 for pantropical spotted dolphins, 550 for striped dolphins, 166 for southern form short-finned pilot whales (including 31 transferred from quota of the small-type whaling), 100 for false killer whales, 360 for Pacific white-sided dolphins, 40 for rough-toothed dolphins, and 260 for melon-headed whales. Corresponding operational months by prefecture in 2018 were as follows: hand harpoon fishery was permitted for nine months (1 January to 31 August and 1-31 December) in Okinawa prefecture, for eight months (1 January to 31 August) in Wakayama, for six months (1 January to 30 April and 1 November to 31 December) in Aomori, Miyagi, Iwate, and Chiba, and for 4.5 months (1 May to 15 June and 1 August to 31 October) in Hokkaido. Drive fishery was permitted for nine months in Wakayama (1 January to 31 May and 1 September to 31 December) and for seven months in Shizuoka (1 January to 31 March and 1 September to 31 December).

Table 5. Direct catch of small cetacean in 2018.

Species Type of fishery Prefecture1) Total landed2)

Hokkaido 1 Baird’s beaked whale Small-type whaling Miyagi 25 Chiba 27 truei-type Iwate 864 Hand harpoon Dall’s porpoise Miyagi 15 Pacific white-sided Drive Wakayama 19 dolphin Hand harpoon 1 Striped dolphin Wakayama Drive 435 Hand harpoon 12 Wakayama Bottlenose dolphin Drive 97 Hand harpoon Okinawa 2 Rough-toothed dolphin Drive Wakayama 6 Melon-headed whale Drive Wakayama 110 Risso’s dolphin Drive Wakayama 227

Southern form short- Small-type whaling Chiba 2 finned pilot whale Hand harpoon Okinawa 7 1) Catches by small-type whaling and drive fishery were recorded at the place of landing of products. Catches by hand harpoon fishery were recorded at the place of registration of vessels.

5 Japan ProgRep. Small cetacean/2019

2) Statistics of small-type whaling are based on reports of biologists and gunners. Those of other fisheries are based on reports of prefectural governments to the Fisheries Agency. They are a compilation of landing slips (hand harpoon fisheries in Iwate and Hokkaido) or reports from individual fishermen or fishery cooperative unions (other prefectures).

5.2 Non-natural mortality for the calendar year 2018 5.2.1 Observed or reported ship strikes We do not have data collecting system for ship strike incidence of small cetaceans.

5.2.2 Fishery bycatch Provisional figures for incidental mortality of small cetaceans (bycatch) by Japanese fisheries, by Prefecture in January-December 2018, are shown in Table 6. Species and figures are based on the reports of prefecture governments to the FAJ, which are reports from individual fishermen or fishery cooperative unions.

Table 6. Fishery bycatch of small cetaceans in 2018. Target fish Source or Species No. of animals Location1) Fate2) Gear3) species4) contact dalli-type 1 Hokkaido K FPN Dall’s porpoise Harbour porpoise 3 K FPN Hokkaido 6 K GNS

Bottlenose dolphin 1 Fukuoka K FPN

5 A False killer whale Okinawa FPN 2 R

Risso’s dolphin 1 Nagasaki K FPN Pacific white-sided 2 Kyoto A FPN dolphin 1 Aichi K FPN 1 Mie K GNS NA FAJ 2 GNS Osaka K 1 MIS 4 Okayama K MIS Finless porpoise 1 Yamaguchi K MIS 2 Oita K GNS 2 A FPN 1 Fukuoka FPN K 1 MIS 4 Nagasaki K GNS Unidentified small 3 Kagawa R GNS cetacean 1) Recorded at the place of fishing gears. 2) Fate of whale: D = discarded dead or seriously injured, K = kept for sale or specimen, R = released alive 3) Described using “FAO FISHING DESCRIPTION AND CODES”, that is, stationary uncovered pound nets (FPN), set gillnets (GNS) and miscellaneous gear (MIS). 4) Target fish species: NA = not available

6 Japan ProgRep. Small cetacean/2019

5.3 Strandings of small cetaceans Provisional figures for strandings of small cetaceans in Japan, for the period January-December 2018, are shown in Table 7. Species and figures are based on reports of prefecture governments to the FAJ, which are reports from individual fishermen, fishery cooperative associations or the general public. No. of post mortems in Table 7 indicated the number of dead animals when they stranded.

Table 7. Strandings of small cetaceans in 2018. Contact person(s)/ Species No. strandings No. post mortems Institute(s) dalli-type Dall’s porpoise 3 3 Harbor porpoise 7 7 Finless porpoise 170 170 Pacific white-sided dolphin 17 17 Striped dolphin 35 32 Long-beaked common dolphin 1 1

Bottlenose dolphin 4 3 Risso’s dolphin 13 13

Short-finned pilot whale 4 4 Melon-headed whale 1 1 Pygmy killer whale 1 1 FAJ Rough-toothed dolphin 1 1 Fraser’s dolphin 3 3

Cuvier’s beaked whale 2 2 Baird’s beaked whale 3 3 Hubbs’ beaked whale 2 2 Stejneger’s beaked whale 4 4 Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whale 3 3 Blainville’s beaked whale 1 1 Dwarf sperm whale 10 9 Pygmy sperm whale 3 3

Unidentified small cetaceans 21 21

In addition, the Institute of Cetacean Research (4-5 Toyomi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0055, Japan), and the National Science Museum (4-1-1, Amakubo, tsukuba, Ibaragi 305-0005, Japan) voluntarily collected relevant information on strandings.

7 Japan ProgRep. Small cetacean/2019

5.4 Earlier years’ statistics Direct catch of Dall’s porpoises in 2017 reported in Japan. Progress report on small cetacean research, April 2017 to March 2018, with statistical data for the calendar year 2017 (H29 Japan ProgRep. SM/2018) was corrected as shown by underline.

H29 Japan ProgRep. SM/2018 Table 5. Direct catch of small cetacean in 2017.

Species Type of fishery Prefecture1) Total landed2)

Hokkaido 4 Baird’s beaked whale Small-type whaling Miyagi 14 Chiba 10

Hokkaido 0 → 17

dalli-type Iwate 5 Dall’s porpoise Hand harpoon Miyagi 2

truei-type Iwate 1,342 Dall’s porpoise Miyagi 22 Pacific white-sided Drive Wakayama 21 dolphin Hand harpoon 18 Striped dolphin Wakayama Drive 299

Pantropical spotted Hand harpoon 27 Wakayama dolphin Drive 17 Hand harpoon 47 Wakayama Bottlenose dolphin Drive 127 Hand harpoon Okinawa 3 Rough-toothed dolphin Drive Wakayama 27 Melon-headed whale Drive Wakayama 156 Hand harpoon 7 Risso’s dolphin Wakayama Drive 118 Small-type whaling Chiba 2 Southern form short- Drive Wakayama 57 finned pilot whale Hand harpoon Okinawa 22 False killer whale Hand harpoon Okinawa 2 1) Catches by small-type whaling and drive fishery were recorded at the place of landing of products. Catches by hand harpoon fishery were recorded at the place of registration of vessels. 2) Statistics of small-type whaling are based on reports of biologists and gunners. Those of other fisheries are based on reports of prefectural governments to the Fisheries Agency. They are a compilation of landing slips (hand harpoon fisheries in Iwate and Hokkaido) or reports from individual fishermen or fishery cooperative unions (other prefectures).

8 Japan ProgRep. Small cetacean/2019

6. OTHER STUDIES AND ANALYSES No other studies or analyses on small cetaceans were conducted during the period from April 2018 to March 2019.

7. LITERATURE CITED

8. PUBLICATION ON SMALL CETACEANS 8.1 Published or In Press’ papers only Kanaji, Y. 2019. Killer whale. In Ohashi, Y. (ed) The Current status of International fishery stocks. Fisheries Agency and Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency. http://kokushi.fra.go.jp/H30/H30_56.pdf. 3pp. (in Japanese) Kanaji, Y. and Miyashita, T. 2019. Dall’s porpoise. In Ohashi, Y. (ed) The Current status of international fishery stocks. Fisheries Agency and Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency. http://kokushi.fra.go.jp/H30/H30_48.pdf. 5pp. (in Japanese) Kanaji, Y., Miyashita, T., Minamikawa, S. and Yoshida, H. 2018. Abundance estimates of six species of Delphinidae cetaceans off the Pacific coast of Japan between 1985 and 2015. Marine Mammal Science 34: 1034–1058. Maeda, H. and Kishiro, T. 2019. Baird’s beaked whale, Berardius bairdii, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk and Pacific Ocean. In Ohashi, Y. (ed) The Current status of international fishery stocks. Fisheries Agency and Fisheries Research Agency. http://kokushi.job.affrc.go.jp/H30/H30_49.pdf. 6pp. (in Japanese) Yoshida, H. 2019. Fisheries and research on small cetaceans (review). In Ohashi, Y. (ed) The Current status of international fishery stocks. Fisheries Agency and Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency. http://kokushi.fra.go.jp/H30/H30_47.pdf. 4pp. (in Japanese) Yoshida, H. 2019. Finless porpoise In Ohashi,Y. (ed.) The Current status of international fishery stocks. Fisheries Agency and Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency. http://kokushi.fra.go.jp/H30/H30_55.pdf. 5pp. (in Japanese)

8.2 Unpublished literature Kanaji, Y., Yoshida, H. and Okazaki, M. 2018. Variability in abundance of Dall's porpoises migrating into southeastern Hokkaido—A result of aerial sighting surveys—. Abstracts for 2018 Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Oceanography. p. 49. (in Japanese) Maeda, H. and Kishiro, T. 2019. Analysis of ovarian tissue for reliable ovarian corpora counts in cetacean. Abstract for 2019 Spring Meeting of the Mammal Society of Japan. p.169 . (in Japanese)

9 Japan. Progress on telemetry work

Satellite tagging experiments at the Institute of Cetacean Research (2019-2020)

Kenji Konishi and Tatsuya Isoda

Institute of Cetacean Research, Toyomi-cho 4–5, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104–0055, Japan

*Contact e-mail: [email protected]

Introduction Satellite-monitored tagging tool is being used in Japan’s whale survey programs to study distribution, movement and stock structure of baleen whales. This paper presents an update of the tag experiments at the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) during 2019-2020, both related to technical developments and field results in the western North Pacific and the Antarctic.

Technical development Development for SPOT177-type tags Implantable satellite-monitored tags SPOT177 (Wildlife Computers, Redmond, Washington, USA) with LK-ARTS and LK-Carrier were used for tracking baleen whales (Figures 1 and 2). To extend tag time on the whales (TOWT), plate hook was installed on the anchor (Figure 1). This tagging anchor was used for baleen whales since 2019, resulting in an extended TOWT of more than 200 days tracking for an Antarctic minke whale Balaenoptera bonaerensis and more than 100 days tracking for sei whales B. borealis in the North Pacific. When possible, skin biopsies were simultaneously sampled using Larsen gun after the deployment of the satellite tags, and stored for later molecular analyses.

Figure 1. Upper: Wildlife Computers SPOT-302 type tag. Lower: SPOT177R with attached anchor (ISOD V3.5).

Figure 2. SPOT177 and LK-Carrier system for LKARTS.

Development of new tether-line carrier LKTTBC for SPOT303 or SPLASH323-type tags with LK-ARTS ICR has used SPOT177 with LK-Carrier which give buoyancy to keep the tag floating on seas surface in case of overshooting a target (Figure 2). However, LK-carrier will not give sufficient buoyancy for SPOT303 type tags because of their heavier weights. Given this situation, LK Tethered_Tube_Biopsy_Carrier (LKTTBC) was developed by LKARTS, Norway to deploy Wildlife Computer SPOT303 and SPLASH10-302 type satellite tags from larger vessels with a range of up to 20m initially (Figure 3). Improvements of the LKTTBC were made for practical use and the author succeeded 1 in deploying a SPOT303 on North Pacific (and the Sea of Okhotsk) fin whales from a small boat and a larger vessel (Figure 3 and 4).

Figure 3. Wildlife Computers SPOT303 connected to LKTTBC.

Figure 4. Deployment of Wildlife Computers SPOT303 on a fin whale by LKTTBC and LK-ARTS off Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan in June 2020. The distance to the target point is approximately 13m. This fin whale has been tracked for more than 200days.

Progress in Antarctic Research Scientific needs Stock structure is important information to interpret abundance estimates and for defining management areas. Genetic and non-genetic analyses support the hypothesis of two stocks of Antarctic minke whales in the Indo-Pacific sector of the Antarctic, which mix spatially in a transition area (Pastene 2006; Pastene and Goto, 2016). However, their migration pattern, e.g. timing of arrival and departure from feeding area, migration route and movement in the feeding area are unknown. Also there is a need to investigate change in distribution and movement of whales in response to environmental changes. It is also important the elucidation of the time whales remain in the feeding areas, which is important parameters for estimation of prey consumption which in turn is important to understand species interactions and monitoring ecosystem changes. The tracking of whales based on satellite tags is a very useful approach to respond those scientific needs. Japan started the satellite tag studies under the New Scientific Whale Research program in the Antarctic Ocean (NEWREP-A) program (2015/16-2018/19 austral summer seasons) and the technique is being used to cover some of the research objectives of the Japanese Abundance and Stock structure Surveys in the Antarctic (JASS-A program). Priority target species for tagging study are the Antarctic minke, fin B. physalus, and blue whales B. musculus in the program.

Research progress Satellite-monitored tags were deployed on the Antarctic minke whale and fin whales during the austral summer seasons 2018/19 and 2019/20 in the Atlantic and Indian sectors of the Antarctic. Eight Antarctic minke and nine fin whales were successfully tagged and locations were tracked (Table 1; Figures 5 and 6). A tag deployed on an Antarctic minke whale (PTT ID 181817) on 2 February 2020 has been tracked for 218 days and the transmission stopped on 2 September 2020. This minke whale showed a long longitudinal and latitudinal movements, and arrived in South Africa (Indian Ocean) on 2 September when the transmission ended (Figure 5). Deployments for fin whales in Antarctic waters started in the 2019/20 season. Fin whales did not show remarkable movement and they remain at the same area (Figure 6).

Previous tagging studies showed that Antarctic minke whale found at the feeding areas of the Ross Sea departed toward the Pacific Ocean (results from 2017/18 season) (Figure 5). The current tagging study 2 showed that whales feeding in areas of the Weddell Sea moved north reaching low latitude waters of the Indian Ocean (Figure 5). These preliminary results are consistent with the hypothesis of two separate stocks in the Indo-Pacific sector of the Antarctic, which have breeding areas in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, respectively. On the other hand the long-range longitudinal movements of Antarctic minke whales tracked in the feeding ground also support the hypothesis of longitudinal mixing of stocks in the feeding grounds.

Tracking of the Antarctic minke whales along ice edge in the austral summer were reported in Konishi et al. (2020) (For Info document in this meeting). The study showed that Antarctic minke whale occurrence is highly associated with sea-ice environment. Fin whales in Antarctic waters are likely to stay in narrow areas and did not show substantial longitudinal movements.

Table 1. Summary of satellite-monitored tag experiments in 2018/19 and 2019/20 austral summer seasons. School PTTID Date Species First Uplink Date Last Uplink Date Data Duration Size 53982 20190225 Antarctic minke 3 2019/2/25 2019/4/17 50d 9h 181813 20200130 Antarctic minke 2 2020/2/5 2020/2/25 20d 10h 181811 20200201 Antarctic minke 1 2019/9/18 2020/2/28 27d 16h 181821 20200201 Antarctic minke 1 2020/2/1 2020/3/12 40d 2h 181817 20200202 Antarctic minke 2 2020/2/2 2020/9/2 213d 13h 181815 20200202 Antarctic minke 1 2020/2/2 2020/5/30 117d 16h 181810 20200202 Antarctic minke 1 2020/2/2 2020/3/20 42d 6h 66627 20200203 Antarctic minke 1 2020/2/3 2020/3/3 29d 0h 66629 20200121 fin 1 2020/1/21 2020/1/25 4d 3h 66641 20200124 fin 2 2020/1/24 2020/6/1 10d 14h 66628 20200124 fin 1 2020/1/24 2020/2/4 10d 10h 181812 20200126 fin 4 2019/9/18 2020/6/2 10d 12h 181818 20200126 fin 3 2020/1/26 2020/2/7 12d 6h 181816 20200127 fin 5 2020/1/27 2020/2/7 9d 23h 181819 20200201 fin 2 2020/2/1 2020/2/20 19d 4h 181820 20200201 fin 6 2020/2/1 2020/2/11 9d 6h 181814 20200206 fin 3 2020/2/6 2020/3/19 42d 1h

Figure 5. Tracking locations of eight Antarctic minke whales in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 austral summer seasons (left) (from the Weddell Sea to lower latitudinal waters of the Indian Ocean) and of three Antarctic minke whales in the 2017/18 austral summer season (right) (from the Ross Sea to lower latitudinal water of the Pacific Ocean).

Figure 6. Tracking locations of fin whales in the 2019/20 austral summer season.

North Pacific Research Scientific needs Japan is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk and Eastern China Sea. Cold- and warm-currents meet at the Pacific coast of northern Japan where pelagic fish is abundant. This area is important for pelagic fisheries and for whales. Stock structure and movement information is important to define management areas for sustainable whaling, and satellite tracking in combination with genetic analyses can provide that information.

Environmental change may cause prey species changes in distribution, abundance and possibly cause interaction between whales and fisheries. However, little is known about whale migration and movement patterns of whales in relation to environmental changes in the western North Pacific. Satellite-monitored tags are useful to monitor seasonal movements with physical environmental data from satellite images for migration. Whale tagging also elucidate important feeding spots by estimating duration of occurrence in particular areas.

Sea of Okhotsk is an important feeding ground for baleen whales. ICR started tagging and biopsy experiments in the Sea of Okhotsk coast of Hokkaido in 2020 using a small whale watching boat.

Target species for ICR’s tagging around Japanese coastal waters are common minke B. acutorostrata, sei, Bryde’s B. edeni brydei, fin and blue whales.

Research progress Tagging results from 2019 and 2000 are listed in Table 2. During the two years, fine tracking records of sei and fin whale were obtained (Table 2, Figures 7 and 8). Tracked sei whales showed wide range of longitudinal and latitudinal movement. A sei whale deployed in the middle of Pacific moved into the Sea of Okhotsk and stayed along the western coast of Kamchatka Peninsula (PTTID 181852, Figure 7). Off the Sea of Okhotsk coast of northern Japan, two fin whales were tracked using SPOT303 from early June for 182 and >217 days (PTTID 181875,181876, Figure 8). PTTID 181876 is still on track by 10 Jan 2021. These fin whales crossed the Kuril Islands and moved between the Sea of Okhotsk and Pacific Ocean. Another fin whales crossed the Aleutian Islands, moving into and out of the Bering Sea (PTTID 181880). 4

SPOT303 tags were deployed on these three fin whales by LKTTBC.

Table 2. Summary of satellite-monitored tag experiments in 2019 and 2020 in the Western North Pacific and Sea of Okhotsk. PTTID Date Species SchSize First Uplink Date Last Uplink Date Data Duration 66639 20191107 sei 1 2019/11/7 2019/11/29 17d 23h 66640 20191111 sei 2 2019/11/11 2019/12/7 14d 12h 66620 20191109 sei 1 2019/11/9 2019/11/29 15d 23h 66623 20191110 sei 1 2019/11/10 2019/12/7 27d 22h 181828 20200225 sei 2 2020/2/25 2020/4/13 48d 11h 181830 20200225 sei 2 2020/2/25 2020/6/15 110d 22h 181832 20200225 sei 2 2020/2/25 2020/3/10 13d 2h 181852 20200805 sei 4 2020/8/4 2020/12/12 129d 20h 66632 20190519 fin 1 2019/5/19 2019/6/16 27d 17h 181840 20200819 fin 1 2020/8/4 2020/8/21 17d 12h 181880 20200828 fin 1 2020/8/28 2020/11/24 88d 1h 181876 20200604 fin 1 2020/6/6 2021/1/10 217d 16h 181875 20200606 fin 3 2020/6/4 2020/12/3 182d 8h 66634 20190525 Blue 2 2019/5/19 2019/6/1 12d 11h 181829 20200224 Bryde's 1 2020/2/24 2020/3/16 21d 16h

Figure 7. Track locations of North Pacific eight sei whales in 2019 and 2020.

Figure 8. Track locations of North Pacific four fin whales in 2019 and 2020.

The pattern of movement of sei whales is consistent with the stock structure hypothesis proposed by the genetic analyses of a large and single pelagic stock. For example a sei whale (PTTID 181830) moved in from 150°E to 170°W during summer feeding season, showing a wide range of movement. Another sei whale crossed from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Okhotsk. Fin whales crossed between Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk and between the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea.

References Konishi, K., Isoda, T., Bando, T., Minamikawa, S. and Kleivane, L. 2020. Antarctic minke whales find ice gaps along the ice edge in foraging grounds of the Indo-Pacific sector (60° E and 140° E) of the Southern Ocean, Polar Biol. 43(4): 343–357. Pastene, L. 2006. What do we know about the stock structure of the Antarctic minke whale? A summary of studies and hypotheses. Paper SC/D06/J12 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee JARPA review meeting, December 2006 (unpublished). 24 pp. Pastene, L. and Goto, M. 2016. Genetic characterization and population genetic structure of the Antarctic minke whale Balaenoptera bonaerensis in the Indo-Pacific region of the Southern Ocean. Fish Sci 82: 873–886.

Acknowledgements We thank Lars Kleivane for collaborative works in developing carriers for satellite-monitored tags and for giving advice on tagging experiment. Thanks are also due to the crews, researchers and ICR members T. Katsumata for their assistance during the field works, T. Tamura for technical advices and L. A. Pastene for his assistance in the preparation of this manuscript. The tag studies have been supported by the Fishery Agency of Japan.