From Sidney Holt
It is not simply that this year scientists “began calculating population
levels” of North Pacific Bryde’s whales
(This Week, 30 May, p 14) but that,
urged by scientists mainly working on behalf of Japan, the International Whaling
Commission’s scientific committee wanted to conduct computerised “simulation
implementation trials”. These would lead directly to the calculation of catch
limits, especially for a type of whaling which has been prohibited by the IWC
since 1979—namely, the use of factory ships to harvest Bryde’s and other
large species.
Norway has for several years used the results of corresponding trials
concerning minke whales in the North Atlantic to calculate its self-awarded
catch quotas for that species. It deflects criticism by claiming it is only
doing what the scientific committee prepared. Most sharp observers of this scene
are sure Japan intends to do the same as soon as the Bryde’s trials are
completed in a year or so.
Ponticelli, Italy
