Results:

Mammalia: Whales and Dolphins

Pictures (Figure A2.20), maps and more detailed species accounts are given for the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae: Figure A2.21), the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus: Figure A2.22), the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus: Figure A2.23), and the northern and southern right whales (Eubalaena glacialis and E. australis: Figure A2.24). All these species are listed in CMS Appendix I., the right whales as subspecies of Baleana glacialis. Clapham et al. (1999) review recent genetic evidence indicating that full species status is appropriate. For all mentioned species, different populations exhibit distinct migration patterns. Satellite tracking, genetic studies, monitoring of acoustic behaviour and photo-identification of individuals has helped to reveal these patterns more clearly (see references within Figures A2.21-A2.24). This requires differentiated threat assessment, and the recent IUCN Red List (Hilton-Taylor 2000) documents considerable differences for the conservation status of distinct stocks. One of the most extreme examples can be observed among the right whales (Figure A2.24): All southern populations (Eubaleana australis) are recovering and are classified as "Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent," while the Pacific and Atlantic stocks of the northern species (Eubalaena glacialis) are "Endangered" (Hilton-Taylor 2000). In addition, Clapham et al. (1999) differentiate between the western and the eastern North Atlantic stock, with the latter consisting of only tens of individuals, and no present activity in former breeding grounds off the North African coast. This could mean that there are no individuals left who know these breeding grounds, and that recovery is now impossible because of an interruption in cultural transmission of behaviour patterns. This example illustrates that even learning and culture must be understood for an efficient conservation of migratory species. It seems that we are loosing an important species for the biodiversity of the north-eastern Atlantic: the northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), in spite of its protection against whaling. A similar situation is observed for the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), where the critically endangered Barents Sea stock has been reduced to only tens of individuals (Figure A2.22, Clapham et al. 1999).

The sad story of the near extinction of great whales by commercial whaling is well known and documented whales previously populated the seas in numbers unimaginable today (see Figure A2.21). Historical population numbers can be reconstructed easily from well-documented statistics reaching back to the 16^th century, and from the trade statistics of whale products such as oil, spermaceti (wax for candles) and baleen plates (Bloch et al. 1996, Gregr et al. 2000). Whaling has been regulated by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) since 1946. The IWC adopted a resolution calling for an indefinite moratorium on commercial whaling, which became effective in 1986. As a result, many stocks are recovering slowly (Zeh et al. 1995, Smith et al. 1999). According to a Revised Management Procedure adopted in 1994, the IWC will allow the reintroduction of commercial whaling if stocks increase to 54% of pre-exploitation levels. The recent assembly of the IWC (London 2001) rejected (with a slim majority) the proposal to resume hunting of minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), because it has been unable to design an acceptable observer system. There are some additional problems regarding compliance with the moratorium: due to its voluntary nature, any member country can file a protest, and then need not abide by it, as in the case of Norway hunting minke whales in the North Atlantic. In addition, whaling for "scientific research" is allowed, if it satisfies IWC criteria. The respective Norwegian and Japanese research programmes have been criticised severely; the complex debate is reviewed by Gillespie (2000). The homepage of the IWC summarises the current research programmes(http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice/iwc.htm). Results are published annually within the "Report of the International Whaling Commission" (for example, see Notarbartolo-di-sciara 1998). The multilingual Japanese whale portal site provides access to news about IWC (http://www.e-kujira.or.jp/world.html), and a link to The Institute of Cetacean Research (I.C.R.), a unique organisation in Japan specialising in the biological and social sciences related to whales (http://www.whalesci.org/research.html). In addition, the website http://www.iwc.org provides interesting news about whale conservation and research.