WHEREAS the Commission adopted a Resolution on a Norwegian proposal for special permits in 1993, inviting the Government of Norway to reconsider its proposed take of minke whales in 1993 and 1994 under special permit (Rep.int.Whal.Commn 44, Appendix 8);

WHEREAS the Commission has considered the Report of the Scientific Committee IWC/46/4 concerning the results of the Norwegian catches of minke whales in the North Atlantic described in SC/46/NA2 and 3, and the proposed catch in 1994 described in SC/46/NA3;

WHEREAS the Commission recognises the past efforts by Norway in research on whales and investigation of their habitat which do not involve the taking of whales;

WHEREAS the Commission takes cognizance of Article VIII of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, under which the granting by any Contracting Government to its nationals of a Special Permit authorising the killing, taking or treatment of whales for purposes of scientific research remains the responsibility of each Contracting Government, exercising its sovereign rights in respect of maritime areas under its jurisdiction and freedom of the high seas;

Now, THEREFORE, the Commission

CONSIDERS; taking into account the comments of the Scientific Committee (IWC/45/4 and IWC/46/4); that the proposed kill of minke whales in the North Atlantic described in SC/46/NA3 and SC/46/NA5 does not fully satisfy the criteria specified in both the 1986 Resolution on Special Permits for Scientific Research and the 1987 Resolution on Scientific Research Programmes, in that the proposed research is not structured so as to contribute information presently required for the management of whaling in these areas for this species;

REITERATES its invitation to the Government of Norway to reconsider the proposed research take of minke whales under special permit in 1994 in the light of the above;

WELCOMES the decision of the Government of Norway not to issue special permits in 1995 and expresses its strong hope that it will be possible for Norway to continue its research programme through non-lethal methods;