IWC Resolution 1994-4

Resolution on a Review of Aboriginal Subsistence Management Procedures

WHEREAS at its 43rd, 44th, and 45th Annual Meetings the Commission discussed a standing request from the Scientific Committee for guidance on a review of the current management procedures for aboriginal subsistence whaling;

WHEREAS the Commission has not yet responded to the Scientific Committee's request; WHEREAS the Scientific Committee has substantially completed its scientific work on a Revised Management Procedure for commercial whaling;

WHEREAS the approach taken in the Revised Management Procedure may be applicable to the development of a new management procedure for aboriginal subsistence whaling; WHEREAS paragraph 13 of the Schedule currently contains a footnote that seeks the advice of the Scientific Committee on minimum stock levels below which whales should not be taken, even to meet aboriginal subsistence need;

WHEREAS paragraph 13 of the Schedule lists three principles by which the Commission is to balance aboriginal subsistence need and protection of whale stocks;

WHEREAS the Commission accepted at its 34th Annual Meeting three broad management objectives for aboriginal subsistence whaling recommended by the 1982 ad hoc Technical Committee Working Group on Management Principles and Guidelines for Subsistence Catches of Whales by Indigenous (Aboriginal) Peoples;

THE COMMISSION RESOLVES that:

(1) The Scientific Committee should investigate potential management regimes for aboriginal subsistence whaling, including regimes based on the approach taken in the Revised Management Procedure and utilising simulation trials where appropriate.

(2) The review conducted by the Scientific Committee should be based on the principles listed in subparagraph 13(a) of the Schedule, and shall also consider the footnote to that sub-paragraph, taking account of any recent developments in conservation theory.

(3) The objectives of any potential regime shall continue to be those accepted by the Commission at the 34th Annual Meeting, which are to: (a) ensure that the risks of extinction to individual stocks are not seriously increased by subsistence whaling; (b) enable aboriginal people to harvest whales in perpetuity at levels appropriate to their cultural and nutritional requirements, subject to the other objectives; and (c) maintain the status of stocks at or above the level giving the highest net recruitment and to ensure that stocks below that level are moved towards it, so far as the environment permits.

(4) Highest priority shall be accorded to the objective of ensuring that the risk of extinction to individual stocks are not seriously increased by subsistence whaling