2001 Archives

13 December 2001

North Atlantic right whales: mothers die too young

According to a recent study published in the scientific magazine, Nature, one of the most endangered species of whales in the world has reached such a low reproductive rate that, if it does not improve, the North Atlantic right whale will become extinct over the course of the next two centuries. The drastic drop is due to a major reduction in the life expectancy of females from 52 years in 1980 to about 15 years in 1995. Normally, these whales reproduce about six times in their lives. They now do so only once or twice before dying.

The North Atlantic right whale population numbers around 300. According to biologists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), this species, which is concentrated between the northern coast of Florida and the Bay of Fundy, would have a slight chance at survival if we succeeded in reducing the number of deaths by as little as a few per year. For this reason, conservation efforts in the United States and Canada are aimed at reducing the number of deaths due to boat collisions and accidental entanglement in fishing gear. [Environment News Service]

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6 December 2001

A new feeding ground for the North Pacific right whale

Scientists have discovered a group of 5 to 7 North Pacific right whales. This group occupies a different habitat than that traditionally used by this species. It spends the summer in the southeastern Bering Sea feeding in shallow water (50 to 80 m deep) on a species of zooplankton that, historically, did not make up part of its diet.

The North Pacific right whales is the most endangered large whale in the world. There are probably only tens of animals left in the northeastern population. The last sighting of a calf of this species dates back to more than ten years. The decline of the species is due to excessive hunting, which ended in the 1960s.

This new feeding ground is the only place where North Pacific right whales can be found regularly in the summer. At least five right whales were seen at one time. This constitutes the biggest group sighted since the middle of the twentieth century. However, the survival of these whales is uncertain as their ecosystem is subjected to wide variations related to climate. We do not know where these whales go in winter, or whether this population contains males and females capable of reproduction. [Associated Press, Tynan et al.]

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Tynan, C. T. et al. 2001. Endangered Right Whales on the Southeastern Bering Sea Shelf. Science. 294:1894.

22 November 2001

Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals

Scientists from the four corners of the planet will be gathering in Vancouver from November 28 to December 3 for the 14^th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. On the programme: the most recent developments in research on marine mammals (seals, sea-lions, whales, dolphins, manatees, sea otter and polar bear), dealing with their biology, ecology, management and conservation. New technology for the study of marine mammals will also be presented. University professors, students, government researchers and private researchers will be giving over 320 conferences, hundreds of poster presentations and 5 symposiums. There will also be 8 workshops organized by conference participants. The general public will be able to attend special presentations starting November 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Conference and Exhibition Centre (http://www.vanconex.com/). This Conference is sponsored by the Society for Marine Mammology, with the support of Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and is hosted by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. [Society for Marine Mammalogy]

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8 November 2001

Whaling: the Japanese en route for the Antarctic Ocean

A fleet of five Japanese whalers left the port of Shimonoseki in the south of Japan on November 6, heading for Antarctic waters. It was the opening of their annual scientific hunting programme that will last six months. The goal is to harvest 400 minke whales. This programme, which respects conditions laid out by the International Whaling Commission, has raised a general outcry from anti-whaling countries like New Zealand, Australia and the United States as well as environmental groups like Greenpeace. The second part of the Japanese scientific whaling programme, which will take place in May and June in the Pacific Northwest, aims at harvesting 100 minke whales, 50 Bryde's whales and 8 sperm whales. [Associated Press]

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25 October 2001

New measures to protect right whales

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the American department in charge of the management and protection of marine resources, is seeking public comment on proposed changes to its plan to reduce accidental entanglement of right whales in fishing gear along the East Coast of the United States. These new measures will also help the three other species included in the plan: the humpback whale, the fin whale and the minke whale.

The first proposed change would amend the types of gear allowed and apply restrictions on how they are used. The second proposed change is based on recent analyses of right whale sightings. These analyses enabled researchers to determine criteria for the establishment of geographical and temporal right whale feeding zones. These zones, that change as the animals move, will have their own specific protection measures. Once established, protection measures in these zones will be valid for 15-day periods.

The North Atlantic right whale is threatened with extinction. One third of all deaths are caused by accidental entanglement in fishing gear and boat collisions. [NMFS]

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11 October 2001

Japan: open season on small cetaceans

The dolphin hunting season opens during the months of October and November along Japan’s coast. Hunters harvest around 20 000 animals per year, most of them are Dall’s porpoises. The main purpose of this hunt is to produce meat for human consumption. The demand for dolphin meat rose following the international moratorium on commercial whaling imposed by the IWC (International Whaling Commission) in 1986.

This hunt is not sustainable for several populations of small cetaceans. The Dall’s porpoise, for example, is now showing signs of overexploitation. The striped dolphin was also overexploited along Japan’s coast between 1940 and 1980. Over the years as many as 22 000 dolphins were killed annually. The present annual quota is 725 striped dolphins. The striped dolphin quota is never attained despite heavy demand for its meat. This is indicative of a steep population decline.

During its most recent annual meeting, last July, the IWC passed a resolution urgently calling on Japan to stop hunting dolphins in its coastal waters. Japan formulated an objection to this resolution, but agreed to supply IWC’s scientific committee with data in order to render its activities more transparent.

The hunting of small cetaceans also raises concerns for human health. The meat is very contaminated by pollutants like PCBs, DDT and mercury. In fact, a toxicological study has revealed that 52% of cetacean meat available on the Japanese market is unfit for human consumption due to high contaminant levels.

The hunting methods used are also under fire because they often imply a slow, painful death for the animals.

The IWC’s authority over the management of small cetaceans is contested by several of its members. There is no international organization responsible for the supervision of small cetacean conservation and management issues, be they hunting, by-catch or habitat degradation. [Perrin, W. L., Selected examples of small cetaceans at risk, in Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals, edited by Twiss and Reeves; Associated Press; IKAN; WDCS; EIA]

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27 September 2001

Churchill may have succumbed to his wounds

Churchill, the right whale that made headlines this summer, may be dead. At 2:18 p.m. on September 16, researchers from the Center for Coastal Studies lost the tracking signal that had allowed them to follow the entangled animal for over three months. The loss of the signal could be due to technical difficulties. It is also possible that the tag is submerged, which suggests that Churchill may have died and that his carcass has sunk. This is quite likely given the animal’s poor condition the last time he was spotted during the Labour Day weekend. It was emaciated and its skin, covered with parasites in places, had lost its normal colour. Churchill’s last recorded position was 400 nautical miles east of New Jersey. Water depth in this area is approximately 4 500 metres, which means that there is little chance of finding the whale without a telemetry signal.

Churchill was seen entangled in fishing gear for the first time on June 8 near Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He was identified as a 50 tonne adult male. Researchers feared he would die if the rope that was tightly wrapped around his upper jaw were not removed. On June 9, a telemetry buoy was attached to one of the lines trailing from the whale. The transmitter on the buoy allowed researchers to track his movements for nearly 5 000 nautical miles. Over the course of his voyage he travelled as far as an area north of the Magdalene Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This is the longest that any right whale has been tracked using satellite telemetry. Five separate attempts were made to free the whale when location and weather conditions permitted. The rescue team was able to successfully administer medication and sedatives to the whale, however, removing the rope, which required surgery, was not possible. The research team was made up of experts affiliated with American governmental agencies, private laboratories and research groups, universities and aquaria. This event brought about the development of expertise that will be useful to help other injured whales in the future. [Center for Coastal Studies, Environment News Service]

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20 September 2001

Arctic Conservation Plan

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is gearing up to protect the fragile ecosystems of the Arctic. WWF representatives from eight countries got together in Toronto last September 6 and 7 to discuss a conservation plan for the Arctic. These countries included Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. They agreed to take several actions for 2010.

Among other things, they plan to create marine conservation areas to protect marine species like walrus and various species of whales. Land based and fresh water protected areas will also be created. Other animals to be protected include large land mammals (polar bears, brown bears, wolves reindeer, caribou, muskoxen and wolverines) and migratory birds.

Arctic ecosystems are under threat from mining and oil exploration, from infrastructure construction (roads, ports and pipelines) and the industrialization that could follow, from hazardous industrial chemicals, from pollution, and from climatic changes and thinning of ice.[Environment News Service]

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6 September 2001

Keiko: not yet ready for freedom

After three years of rehabilitation in Iceland, Keiko, the killer whale made famous in the film "Free Willy", is still not ready to live with his peers in the wild. The killer whale spent the summer socializing with groups of wild killer whales. However, as they are now beginning their migration, Keiko will be return to a protected bay for the winter. According to the person in charge of Keiko's rehabilitation, Keiko made progress this year. He separated from the rehabilitation boat on his own initiative on several occasions. He also succeeded in locating and integrating with wild whales on his own. However, he always returned to the boat and was not able to forage enough to sustain himself.

Keiko, whose name signifies "Lucky One" in Japanese, is now 23 years old. He was captured in Icelandic waters more than 20 years ago at the age of two. He lived in several marine parks in Iceland and in North America before becoming a film celebrity. The rehabilitation programme has been led by Ocean Futures Society, a non-profit organization, since 1996. This is the first attempt of its kind and no one knows what the chance of success for this costly operation might be. [Ocean Futures, Reuters]

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23 August 2001

What is behind the "Dolphin Safe" tuna label?

A judgement handed down by the court of appeal will force the United States to maintain its ban on encircling dolphins to capture tuna labelled and sold as "Dolphin Safe".

Since 1959, tuna fishermen in the Eastern Tropical Pacific have taken advantage of the tuna-dolphin association: they encircle groups of dolphins and capture tuna found below them. This technique caused a great deal of concern in the 1970s due to the high dolphin mortality rate associated with it.

In 1979 an international organization put a system in place to make fishermen aware of the problem in order to develop methods to avoid dolphin deaths associated with the tuna fishery. In 1990, the United States introduced the "Dolphin Safe" label to indicate tuna that had been caught without following and capturing dolphins. Thanks to these initiatives, dolphin mortality associated to the tuna fishery has dropped by 98% in the Eastern Tropical Pacific since 1990.

The United States also imposed embargoes on different tuna fishing countries between 1988 and 1994 without regard for the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT). As well, the alternative techniques used by the American fleet since 1992 to avoid encircling dolphins were shown to have very negative impacts on various marine species including juvenile tuna, sharks and marine turtles. As a result of international agreements, the United States was bound to lift embargoes and change the definition of "Dolphin Safe" if no dolphins were killed or seriously wounded while fishing for tuna.

This new definition was to be applied automatically in 1999 unless the American government could prove that encircling tuna had a negative impact on the dolphin populations concerned. American Commerce Secretary William Daley concluded, on the basis of available data, that chasing and netting dolphins while fishing for tuna had no negative impact on them. Pursuant to this declaration, an association of environmental organizations filed a lawsuit against Mr. Daley. The court of appeal has just passed judgement in favour of the environmental groups, forcing the United States to maintain its definition of "Dolphin Safe" which has been in place since 1990. The Bush administration has yet to decide what position it will adopt on this issue. [NMFS, Environment News Service]

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16 August 2001

The WWF supports controlled whaling

Last week, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) voiced its disappointment with the results of the most recent meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) which was held at the end of July in London. WWF deplores the IWC's inability to put in place measures for the control of international whaling activities.

According to this environmental group, the anti-whaling nations should propose an acceptable compromise to pro-whaling nations. The first step is to agree on the content of the Revised Management Procedure. This plan would open the door to a limited whale hunt.

Furthermore, the wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, a joint programme of the WWF and IUCN (the World Conservation Union), has just published a report underlining progress made by Norway concerning its control trade scheme for whale products. This programme includes, among other things, a genetic catalogue of all whales legally hunted by Norway, a measure aimed at controlling whale meat found on the international market. Last January, Norway announced its intention to resume international trade in whale products. The genetic catalogue should be completed before the resumption of trade with Japan. [WWF, TRAFFIC, High North Alliance]

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2 August 2001

Whaling: fifty-third IWC Conference, still no accord

The International Whaling Commission held its fifty-third conference from July 23 to 27 in London. Discussions are more and more difficult and tension is building. First of all, the ban has not yet been lifted. The ban was voted on in 1982 and put into place in 1985-1986 in order to allow the IWC Scientific Committee to evaluate whale stocks for the purpose of eventually setting quotas. Next, adoption of the Revised Management Scheme was postponed. This plan which includes, among other things, an inspection and observation system for ensuring that quotas are respected, is an indispensable condition for the lifting of the commercial whaling ban. Member countries were required to study recommendations which had been put forward at a special meeting held in Monaco last February concerning the Revised Management Scheme for commercial whaling.

The number of IWC member countries hoping for a lifting of the ban is growing every year. Some countries are interested in commercial whaling, stating that certain whale populations could support whaling. Other countries that do not hunt whales believe that the legalization of limited commercial whaling is the only way to efficiently control this activity.

Some member countries made allegations that Japan had bought the votes of poorer countries, such as certain Caribbean states, and that it would continue this type of recruitment in order to attain the 75% of votes necessary to obtain a lifting of the ban at the next meeting. The Japanese delegation denied these allegations saying that it is normal for countries that depend on marine resources to be in favour of commercial whaling.

Other important points that were discussed included whale sanctuaries and world-wide whale population estimates. It is important to note that the IWC must soon modify its estimates of the Antarctic minke whale population which is presently hunted by the Japanese Last year’s estimate of 760 000 is presently under revision by the IWC’s Scientific Committee. Also, two motions proposing the creation of whale sanctuaries, one in the southern Pacific proposed by Australia and New Zealand and the other in the southern Atlantic proposed by Brazil, were rejected.

Japan put forward an objection to an IWC resolution that strongly encouraged it to cease hunting dolphins in its coastal waters. However, the Japanese delegation did agree to furnish data concerning this hunt in order to render its activities more transparent.

The 2002 annual meeting will be held in Shimonoseki Japan. [ Kyodo Japan, The Associated Press, Ananova, Asia Times]

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19 July 2001

The hunt for grey whales by the Makah: broader scope

The Makah, a tribe from north-western Washington, has had its grey whale hunting permit conditions broadened following a new environmental assessment by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

In 1997, this American tribe had obtained a quota to hunt five grey whales annually for subsistence purposes. However, the terms of the quota allowed them to hunt only migratory whales. In other words, the Makah were not allowed to hunt whales that resided in Juan de Fuca Straight.

A recent study by the NMFS demonstrated that Makah whaling had no impact on the grey whale population, does not destroy habitat, does not threaten other species and consuming the meat does not pose a threat to human health. It also states that there is no reason to make a distinction between migrating grey whales and Juan de Fuca Straight residents, as they associate and interbreed. For these reasons the Makah now have the right to hunt resident and migratory grey whales year round.

The Makah claim the right to whaling for cultural and social reasons. They had hunted grey whales for several centuries, but stopped 75 years ago due to a decline in the grey whale population because of overhunting by non-natives. In 1998 they began whaling again, and since the start of the hunt only one whale has been killed. This event raises controversy with environmentalists. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is looking into the affair and may file a lawsuit against the American government. [Environment News Service, NMFS]

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28 June 2001

To the rescue of a right whale

A team including experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is presently preparing an expedition to go to the rescue of a North Atlantic right whale caught in fishing gear off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The whale is dragging a heavy fishing line around its mouth and head, a situation that could eventually lead to the animal’s demise.

A satellite-tracking device has been attached to the whale in order to keep track of its position. The rescue team will get to work as soon as tracking and weather allow.

Accidental entanglement in fishing gear is a main cause of injury and death for this species. In the present situation, the severity of the entanglement is such that extraordinary measures will be required in order to free the animal. The rescue plan includes the use of buoys, sedatives and special knives to cut the cord.

Despite the fact that this rescue attempt represents a stressful situation for the animal, and a certain amount of danger for the rescuers, everything will be put into play to free the whale, as the consequences of failure are dire indeed. The North Atlantic right whale is threatened with extinction, there are only just over 300 individuals left.[Environment News Service]

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14 June 2001

New environmental standards for cruise lines

In the interest of better protecting the marine environment, the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) has adopted new mandatory environmental standards for cruise ships.

ICCL is a cruise industry trade association that represents the interests of more than 70 cruise industry suppliers and of 16 passenger cruise lines in the North American cruise market. Its mission is to participate in regulatory processes and policy development and to promote measures that foster a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment. Each year ICCL member operators carry more than seven million passengers on over 90 ships.

The new standards target the following areas:

• Improving cruise ship design and construction to make them as environmentally friendly as possible
• Using new technology that is less harmful for the environment
• Complying fully with international and U.S. environmental laws
• Putting in place monitoring programmes
• Minimizing waste production and correctly disposing of waste (wastewater, bilgewater, all forms of chemical products, used batteries, used fluorescent and mercury vapour lamp bulbs, photocopy and laser printer cartridges, recycling of glass, cardboard, aluminum, steel, etc.)

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10 May 2001

Opposition to U.S. Navy active sonar

The last of three public hearings organized by the NMFS, the American agency responsible for marine resource management, concerning a permit request by the U.S. Navy, was held on May 3, 2001. The U.S. Navy plans to deploy its low frequency active sonar in 80 percent of the worldís oceans over the course of a five-year programme. These active sonar were devised to detect silent submarines. The project raised heavy opposition from the general public, independent scientists and environmental groups, claiming that low frequency active sonar harms marine mammals and was the cause of massive whale strandings. The object of the public hearings is the granting of a permit, which would allow the Navy to harass, injure or kill marine mammals.

The public hearing took place in Silver Spring, Maryland. The public has until May 18, 2001 to send comments to the NMFS concerning the deployment of the U.S. Navy's low frequency active sonar system. [Environment News Service, NRDC]

26 April 2001

Whaling: Japanese return from the Antarctic with 440 minke whales

A Japanese fleet harvested 440 minke whales in the Antarctic between November and April. This hunt raises controversy; the IWC (International Whaling Commission) implemented an international moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986. Japan, which is a member of the IWC, continues to hunt whales despite the moratorium thanks to a clause in the IWC convention which allows for scientific hunting.

The Japanese were whaling in international waters that are considered a whale sanctuary. Japan maintains that its whaling programme allows it to collect important data concerning whale populations and the ecological roles they play. The whale meat is sold in Japanese markets to cover a portion of the research cost, the rest of the cost is covered by government subsidy.

Despite the opposition by numerous IWC member countries and environmental groups, like Greenpeace and IFAW, a coalition led by Japan and Norway is pushing to lift the ban on commercial whaling. The IWC is studying a new inspection and observation scheme to control whaling. Members will reach a decision concerning the resumption of the commercial hunt at the next annual IWC conference which will be held in London in July 2001. [Environment News Service]

April 5 2001

Endangered species status for the California grey whale population?

On March 29, two environmental groups, Australians for Animals and The Fund for Animals, filed a petition in Washington asking that the eastern North Pacific or "California" grey whale be listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The grey whale was nearly exterminated in 1880. This population was put under the protection of the of the ESA in 1970, only to be de-listed in 1994.

Offshore oil and gas development, bottom trawling, sediment contamination, global warming and El-nino events have caused drastic changes in Bering and Chukchi seas, two major feeding grounds for the eastern North Pacific grey whales. Among these changes is a notable decline in abundance of benthic amphipods, the primary food source of the grey whale.

The number of strandings has risen from a total of 250 between 1990 and 1998, to 274 and 291 respectively for the years 1999 and 2000. Certain scientists propose that this increase in mortality, as well as the decline in births, from 1520 in 1997 to only 282 in 2000, are directly related to an inadequate food supply for the grey whale population. Finally, traditional hunting by both American and Russian aboriginals is also considered a potential threat.

According to the petition, the eastern North Pacific grey whales fulfil three of the five criteria for ESA listing: 1) their habitat has been modified or destroyed, 2) natural and manmade threats affecting its continued existence, 3) regulatory mechanisms in place are inadequate for the protection of the population. The American government is obliged to put in place measures for the protection of species present on the ESA list. [Fund for animals, Journal of cetacean research and management]

15 March 2001

Cetacean strandings in the Bahamas: one year later

One year ago, several cetaceans belonging to various species, mostly beaked whales, stranded in large numbers on the beaches of northern Bahamas islands. At the same time, in the same area, the American Navy was testing new tactical sonar that emitted very powerful sounds. Since then, NOAA Fisheries, a department of the American government overseeing marine resources, carried out studies on six of the whale carcasses recovered after the strandings. The American Navy is collaborating in this study by analyzing acoustical, oceanographic and environmental data associated with the event. Initial results of these studies show that the whales had injuries that resulted from being exposed to very powerful sound. Scientists from NOAA Fisheries and the American Navy conclude, for the moment, that these injuries disoriented the whales, and that they then died after having beached themselves. The American Navy admits the tactical sonar that it was testing at the time could be the cause of these injuries. However, Ken Balcomb, an independent researcher who has been working for years with the beaked whales of the Bahamas, believes that the relationship between the sonar and the dead beaked whales is much more direct. Mr. Balcomb's analysis suggests that the injuries observed in the beaked whales were caused by a resonance phenomena in the whale's cranial air spaces. This phenomena is independent of sound intensity and is related to characteristics of cranial sinuses and emitted sound frequencies. Ken Balcomb also believes that this phenomena killed most, if not all, of the beaked whales in the area and that those that stranded were but temporary survivors. The American Navy carries out testing of these tactical sonars world-wide. The final report of the American Navy and NOAA Fisheries should be available by next summer. [NOAA Fisheries, Ken Balcomb, The Sun of Bremerton, U.S. Navy, Defence Environment Alert]

1^st March 2001

Baja California: funding for environmentally sustainable projects

On February 9, two environmental groups, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), announced the establishment of a one million pesos (US$ 100 000) fund to assist the communities surrounding Laguna San Ignacio, Baja California. These communities had backed the two groups in their opposition to a joint project of the Mexican government and Mitsubishi Corporation. The proposed project was to convert Laguna San Ignacio, one of the last nurseries for the Eastern Pacific grey whale population, into an industrial salt factory. Laguna San Ignacio was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. It is home to several species of endangered plant and animal life. The Mexican government and Mitsubishi announced the cancellation of the project on March 2, 2000, following the recommendations of an environmental impact study led by a team from UNESCO.

The fund set up by IFAW and NRDC is to help the communities around Laguna San Ignacio create environmentally sustainable projects, as well as to improve health and education within the communities. The fund will also be used to identify investment needs. As it stands, these communities are still waiting for the Mexican government to live up to its promises of financial support for alternative sustainable development in Laguna San Ignacio. [Environment News Service]

15 February 2001

Whaling: are we on the verge of a lifting of the ban?

A special meeting held from February 6 to 8 in Monaco by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was attended by representatives of its 40 member nations. The goal of this meeting was to discuss the Revised Management Scheme for commercial whaling. The scientific committee of the IWC has completed a procedure for calculating whaling quotas, the Revised Management Procedure. With limited data, this procedure will be used to propose prudent whaling quotas for certain whale populations when they are abundant, all the while taking into account the uncertainty of data, the degradation of the environment, and the lack of understanding of population dynamics. Member nations must now agree on the other aspects of the management scheme, specifically: international supervision of whaling activities, the control of hunting methods, genetic tracking of each whale killed and funding of the management plan. The recommendations stemming from this special meeting must be approved at the annual meeting of the IWC to be held in London in July 2001 before a decision can be reached concerning a lifting of the commercial whaling ban. However, member nations are far from a common accord on all aspects of the Revised Management Scheme. [International Whaling Commission, Environment News Service]

1 February 2001

North Atlantic right whales: increase in number of births

Researchers studying right whales on their breeding and calving grounds along the coasts of Florida and Georgia have sighted at least 14 births over the course of the last two months. This is more than have been sighted in the last three years combined. There are an estimated 300 right whales in the North Atlantic. Seventy of them are females capable of giving birth. On average, researchers count 11 births per year. Last year only one birth was sighted, while in 1996 researchers reported 21 births. The low birth rate of the last three years appears to be linked to low levels of zooplankton in Cape Cod Bay, which is an important feeding ground for the North Atlantic right whale. This species is the most endangered great whale in the world. The leading causes of deaths are entanglement in fishing gear and collision with ships. [Florida Times, Center for Coastal Studies]

January 25 2001

Norway to permit export of whale blubber and meat

On January 16, Norway announced its decision to allow the export of whale products for the first time since the 1980s. Exports will be mainly to Japan, but will also be directed to Iceland and Peru. Norway reinstated the commercial hunt of minke whales in 1993 after having officially opposed the international moratorium decreed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC ). Another convention, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), prohibits the international trade in endangered species. Neither Norway nor its three target markets are bound by the ban with regards to whale products due to formal objections they made that certain whale populations were listed in Annex 1 of the Convention which prohibits international trade. Norway had, up until now, barred the export of whale products for fear of a backlash of international public opinion.

Commercial whaling undertaken by Norway since 1993 has supplied domestic markets with whale meat. Six hundred tonnes of blubber, spurned by Norwegians but highly prized by the Japanese, are in storage in freezers pending permission to export. Norwegian whalers have been putting pressure on their government to resume exports of whale products. The Norwegian Seafood Export Council estimates that Norwegian companies have lost 9.8 million Norwegian crowns ($CN 1.7 million) due to the ban since the resumption of whaling in 1993.

Norwegian whalers are very pleased with their government’s decision. The export of whale products will only begin once the genetic catalogue is completed. This will likely take several weeks. The catalogue will include the "signatures" of all animals hunted by Norway in recent years. The purpose of this measure is to ensure the origin of whale products found on the open market.

Several environmental groups, such as Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund and Sea Shepherd International, strongly oppose Norway’s decision and are calling on countries like the United States, Australia and England to impose economic sanctions. They fear that poaching and raising of quotas will inevitably result. Norway’s whaling quota for 2001 is set at 549 minke whales. This is down from 2000 (655 minke whales) and 1999 (753 minke whales). Norwegian whalers protested the drop in early December. Quotas have not been filled in recent years. Whalers chalk this up to bad weather and strict zoning imposed by the government. [Environment News Service, Reuters, Associated Press]

18 January 2001

Hong Kong’s pink dolphin threatened with extinction

The population of pink dolphins living in the Pearl River Delta is severely threatened. As few as 180 of these dolphins remain in the waters around Hong Kong, while the total Delta population is estimated at approximately 1000 animals. The main threats for this population are pollution, lack of food due to over-fishing, habitat loss and boat collisions. The Pearl River drains a territory, occupied by one eighth of the population of China, where numerous polluting industries are present and where DDT is still in use. Due to problems of enforcement, a dolphin sanctuary and strict environmental laws have not been sufficient to protect this species.

These dolphins belong to the species Sousa chinensis, a coastal species that is also found off South Africa, Australia and along the Chinese Coast as far as the Yangtze River. The Chinese dolphins differ from the others by the pink colour of the adults. Lindsay Porter of the University of Hong Kong’s Swire Institute of Marine Science has observed that the majority of all calves born in the Pearl River Delta die from pollution. She goes on to state that the population is in effect losing a whole generation, which could translate into a major reduction in numbers in ten years or so.

The pink dolphin was chosen as a mascot for Hong Kong, to celebrate the return of the former British colony to China in 1997. This form of visibility helped environmentalists raise awareness to the plight of the dolphin in Hong Kong waters. According to Hong Kong Dolphinwatch, a group that organizes cruises to go see the dolphins, many residents of Hong Kong are still not aware that the dolphin even exists and that its survival is endangered. [Reuters, Hong Kong Dolphinwatch]